Thought for the Day – 28 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY Meditations for a Month
Models of Humility: The Blessed Virgin
No-one of all the children of Adam ever approached the Blessed Virgin Mary in humility. What had she to make her humble? She had no sin or imperfection for which to humble herself before God. Yet the greatest of sinners never humbled himself as did Mary. How was this? It was because no-one, save she, ever recognised her own nothingness in God’s sight. This is the surest basis for humility. We are so wanting in humility because we do not recognise our utter insignificance and the absence of any good in us, save that which, is the gift of God.
Thus, it was that, because Mary had a right to the highest place, she always sought the lowest. This is the law, which everywhere prevails. Those who deserve the lowest place, seek the highest and those who deserve the highest, seek the lowest. The enemies of God do not like to lower themselves. But, His friends recognise the lowest place as the place most suitable for them Am I, in this respect, one of God’s friends or one of His enemies?
Mary’s humility was also the result of her desire to be like to her Divine Son in all things. When she saw Him stoop from the highest Heaven to earth, she longed to stoop to the very dust. She placed herself in spirit beneath the feet of all and, would have placed herself lower still, if it had been possible. For what humiliation could even Mary endure which was in any way comparable to that of her Son? If Mary, then, is my Queen and Mother, I will seek to imitate her in this. If the Immaculate Mother of God loved to humble herself, how much more should I, who am but a miserable worm of earth?
Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – Pentecost X – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Everyone who exalts himself, shall be humbled and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.”
Luke 18:14
“The most perfect degree of humility is to take pleasure in contempt and humiliations. Contempt suffered patiently, is worth more before God, for love of Him, than a thousand fastings and disciplines.”
“Let us not lower our eyes without humiliating the heart , at the same time; let others not think we want the last place, without truly desiring it!”
“Humility makes our lives, acceptable to God, meekness, makes us acceptable to men.”
One Minute Reflection – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Sts Nazarius and Celus, Martyrs and St Pope Innocent I (Died 417) Confessor – Pentecost X – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:14
REFLECTION – “Before the Lord Jesus’ coming, people drew all their glory from themselves. But He came as man that the glory of man might grow less and the glory of God grow greater. For He came without sin and found us all to be sinners. If He came to loose our sins it is because God is merciful, so let man take note of it. For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.
If He came to forgive us our sins, then let man take thought of his lowliness and God exercise His Mercy. “He must increase but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). That is to say, He it is Who must give and it is for me to receive. He must have the glory and I must acknowledge it. Man should understand his place, let him acknowledge God and hear what the Apostle Paul says to the high-minded and proud man, who claims to be exalted: “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as though you have not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). So, let the man who would call his own that which is not his own, understand that he has received it and make himself small, for it is good for him that God should be glorified in him. Therefore, let him grow less in himself that, in him, God may grow greater.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel 14:5)
PRAYER – May the Martyrdom of Thy Saints Nazarius, Celsus and Victor, give us courage, O Lord and may it give us a help to counter our weakness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Pentecost X
O Love Eternal! An Act of Love By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church (From his “A Treatise on the Love of God”)
O Love Eternal, my soul needs and chooses Thee eternally! Ah, come Holy Ghost and inflame our hearts with Thine Love! To love — or to die! To die — and to love! To die to all other love in order to live in Jesus’ Love, so that we may not die eternally but that we may live in Thine Eternal Love, O Saviour of our souls, we eternally sing, “Live, Jesus! Jesus, I love! Live Jesus, Whom I love! Jesus, I love, Jesus Who lives and reigns forever and ever.” Amen.
Saint/s of the Day – 28 July – Saint Nazarius (Died c68) and Saint Celsus (Died c68) Martyrs, Missionaries and disciples of St Peter the Apostle, whose bodies were found by St Ambrose in Milan. Additional Memorial on 10 May of the finding of the Relics by St Ambrose. They were born in Rome and died by beheading in c68 in Milan under Nero. Patronages – the City and Diocese of Carcassone, (et Narbonne) in France; the Cities of Arenzano, Bareggio, Bellano, Collio, Stagno Lombardo, and the Diocese of Trivento, all in Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Milan, the birthday of the holy Martyrs, Nazarius and a boy named Celsus. While the persecution excited by Nero was raging, they were beheaded by Anolinus, after long sufferings and afflictions endured in prison.”
Nazarius’ father was a heathen who held a considerable post in the Roman army. His mother, Perpetua, was a zealous Christian and was instructed by St Peter and his disciples, in the most perfect maxims of our holy Faith. Nazarius embraced ithe Faith with so much ardour that he copied in his life, all the great virtues he saw in his teachers and, out of zeal for the salvation of others, he left Rome, his native City and preached the Faith in many places, with a fervour, thus becoming a disciple of the Apostles.
Arriving at Milan, he was there beheaded for Christ, together with Celsus, a youth whom he carried with him to assist him in his holy mission.
These Martyrs suffered soon after Nero had raised the first persecution. Their bodies were buried separately in a garden without the City, where they were discovered and exhumed by St Ambrose, in 395. In the Tomb of St Nazarius, a phial of the Saint’s blood was found as fresh and red as if it had been spilt that day. The faithful stained their handkerchiefs with some drops and also formed a paste, a portion of which Relic St Ambrose sent to St Gaudentius, Bishop of Brescia. St Ambrose also sent some of the 2 Saints’ Relics to St Paulinus of Nola, who received them, with great respect, as a most valuable gift, as he testifies.
St Ambrose conveyed the bodies of the two Martyrs into the new Church of the Apostles which he had just built. A woman was delivered of an evil spirit in their presence.
Sts Nazarius and Celsus are venerated along with Popes Victor I (Died c100) Martyr and Innocent I (Died 417) Confessor, today, 28 July.
St Pope Innocent I (Died 417) Confessor. Papal Ascension 402 until his death on 12 March 417, He defended the exiled Saint John Chrysostom and consulted with the Bishops of Africa concerning the Pelagian controversy, confirming the decisions of the African synods. The Catholic priest-scholar Johann Peter Kirsch, 1500 years later, described Innocent as “a very energetic and highly gifted individual …who fulfilled admirably the duties of his office.” Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/28/saint-of-the-day-28-july-saint-pope-innocent-i-died-417/
St Acacius of Miletus St Arduinus of Trepino St Botwid of Sudermannland St Camelian of Troyes Bl Christodoulos St Eustathius of Galatia St Irene of Cappadocia Bl John Soreth St Longinus of Satala St Lucidius of Aquara St Lyutius *St Nazarius and St Celsus(Died c68) Martyrs, Missionaries and disciples of St Peter the Apostle
St Nicanor the Deacon St Parmenas the Deacon St Peregrinus St Prochorus the Deacon
Thought for the Day – 27 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY Meditations for a Month
Models of Humility: Jesus Christ
When we compare the humility of Jesus Christ with that which is possible to ourselves, it seems as though the virtue in us, does not deserve the same name, for He, Who was Omnipotent God lowered Himself to become the lowliest of men. Such an act of humility was an Infinite abasement of Himself and had an Infinite value in the sight of God. The Divine Word submitted to the obliteration of all His Glory and Majesty when He became man. This was humility indeed! But what is our humility? Simply placing ourselves in a position which more nearly approaches that which we deserve to occupy! When I humble myself, I simply divest myself of the false position of seeming to have any virtue, or dignity, or claim to honour, of my own.
Even when He had lowered Himself to the nature of man, He was not satisfied but He needed to seek out every kind of contempt and insult. He was regarded as a madman, as possessed with a devil, as a wine-bibber, as an impostor, as a leader of sedition, as a fool, as a criminal and as a blasphemer. All this He took upon Himself, of His own accord and deemed an honour! Is it not strange that I should shrink from sharing that whicvh the Son of God chose as the fitting treatment of His Human Nature?
He did more than this. He so identified Himself with human sin that He is said, by the Apostle, to have been made sin for our sakes and, by this means, He was able to find a fresh motive for humbling Himself, as being laden with sin in the sight of His Heavenly Father. If He, the Spotless Lamb, thus sought out motives of humiliation, how is it that I,, on the contrary, seem to avoid all which humbles me?
Quote/s of the Day – 27 July – Our Lady Mother of Mercy and Mary’s Saturday
“She is Virgin and Mother, what will she not be hereafter? Holy in body, all beautiful in soul, pure of mind, upright in intelligence, perfect in feeling, chaste and faithful, pure of heart and filled with virtue. … Mary is the new tree of life who, instead of the bitter fruit picked by Eve, gives to mankind that sweet fruit on which the whole world is fed!”
St Ephrem (306-373) Deacon in Syria, Father and Doctor of the Church
“I want, very much, to have a little house built here for me, in which I will show Him, I will exalt Him and make Him manifest. I will give Him to the people in all my personal love, in my compassion, in my help, in my protection because, I am truly your merciful Mother, yours and all the people who live united in this land and of all the other people of different ancestries, my lovers, who love me, those who seek me, those who trust in me.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego 1531
Mother of Mercy By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Serpahic Doctor
Virgin full of goodness, Mother of Mercy, I entrust to thee my body and soul, my thoughts, my actions, my life and my death. O my Queen, help me, and deliver me from all the snares of the devil. Obtain for me the grace of loving my Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, with a true and perfect love, and after Him, O Mary, to love thee with all my heart and above all things. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 27 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Saturday of the Blessed Virgin (Salve Sancta Parens) – St Pantaleon (Died c305) Martyr, Lay Physician, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers – Ecclesiasticus 24:14-16; Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28
REFLECTION – “Truly it is “a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome” (1 Tm 1:15) your Almighty Word, Lord, which, in such deep Silence, made His way down from the Father’s royal throne (Wis 18:14f) into the mangers of animals and meanwhile, speaks to us better by His Silence. “Let him who has ears to hear, hear” what this loving and mysterious Silence of the eternal Word speaks to us …
For what recommends the discipline of silence with such weight and such authority, what checks the evil of restless tongues and the storms of words, as the Word of God, silent in the midst of men. “There is no word on My tongue” (Ps 138:4), the Almighty Word seems to confess while He is subject to His Mother. What madness then will prompt us to say: “With our tongues we can do great things; our lips are good friends to us; we own no master” (Ps 11:5). If I were allowed, I would gladly be dumb and be brought low and be silent, even of good things that I might be able, the more attentively and diligently, to apply my ear to the secret utterances and sacred meaning of this Divine Silence, learning in silence, in the school of the Word, if only for as long as the Word Himself was Silent under the instruction of His Mother …
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” (Jn 1:14). With complete devotion, then, let us think of Christ in the swaddling clothes with which His Mother wrapped Him, so that, with eternal happiness, we may see the glory and beauty with which His Father has clothed Him.” – Blessed Guerric of Igny O.Cist. (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot (The 5th sermon for Christmas).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that through the intercession of Thy blessed Martyr Pantaleon, we may be delivered from all afflictions of the body and cleansed from all evil thoughts of the mind. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 27 July – Our Lady Mother of Mercy and Mary’s Saturday
Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Evangelical Doctor of the Church
Mary, our Queen! Holy Mother of God, we beg you to hear our prayer. Make our hearts overflow with Divine grace and resplendent with heavenly wisdom. Render them strong with your might and rich in virtue. Pour down upon us the gift of mercy so that we may obtain the pardon of our sins. Help us to live in such a way as to merit the glory and bliss of Heaven. May this be granted us, by your Son Jesus Who has exalted you above the Angels, has crowned you as Queen and has seated you with Himself forever, on his refulgent throne. Amen
Saint of the Day – 27 July – Blessed Lucia Bufalari of Amelia OSA (Died 1350) Virgin, Augustinian Oblate Prioress, Mystic, Miracle-worker Born in the early 14th Century at Castel Porziano near Rome, Italy and died on 27 July 1350 at the Augustinian Convent in Amelia, Italy of natural causes. Lucia was the sister of Blessed Giovanni or John of Rieti OSA (c1318-2362) who also joined the Augustinians (Feast Day on 1 August). PatronageS – against demonic possession, particularly of children. Also known as – Lucy of Amelia, Lucia. Her body is Incorrupt.
Little is known of her life, save that she gained the reputation for great holiness and prudence as an Augustinian Third Order Nun at Amelia.
We know that later she became the Pprioress of her community. She died young, on 27 July 1350.
Following her death, the people of Amelia acclaimed her as a Saint. Her Incorrupt Body is preserved at the former Augustinian Church of Amelia. Her cultus was confirmed on 3 August 1832 by Pope Gregory XVI.
In 1925, Blessed Lucia’s Relics were re-enshrined in the Church of Saint Monica and in 2011 they were translated and enshrined under the Altar of the Parish Church in Amelia when the Convent closed. Many miracles occurred there, especially in regard to children believed to be demonically possessed.
St Aetherius of Auxerre St Anthusa of Constantinople St Arethas St Aurelius of Cordoba St Benno of Osnabruck (c 1020-1088) Bishop Bl Berthold of Garsten
St Ecclesius of Ravenna St Felix of Cordoba St Galactorio of Lescar St George of Cordoba St Hermippus St Hermocrates St Hermolaus St Juliana of Mataró St Lillian of Cordoba Blessed Lucy Bufalari of Amelia OSA (Died 1350) Virgin, Augustinian Oblate Prioress. Her body is incorrupt. St Luican
Blessed Maria Magdalena Martinengo OSC Cap (1687-1737) Nun of the Order of the Capuchin Poor Clares, Mystic with a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. She had a great horror of sin and devoted much time to contemplating death, and the Divine Judgement. The recognition of two miracles attributed to her direct intercession allowed for Pope Leo XIII to preside over her Beatification on 3 June 1900. Her Story: https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/27/saint-of-the-day-27-july-blessed-maria-magdalena-martinengo-osc-cap-1687-1737/
Bl Rudolf Aquaviva S.J. Bl Robert Sutton St Semproniana of Mataró St Sergius of Bisceglia Bl William Davies Bl Zacarías Abadía Buesa
Martyrs of Nicomedia – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together. The only other information to survive are their names – Felix, Jucunda and Julia. Nicomedia, Asia Minor.
Seven Sleepers of Ephesus: A group of seven young Christian men who hid in a cave in hopes of avoiding the persecution of Decius in the year 250. Found and arrested, they were ordered by the pro-consul in Ephesus to renounce their faith; they refused and were sentenced to die. Legend says that they were walled up in their hiding cave, guarded by the dog Al Rakim; when the cave wall was breached in 479 – they all woke up! It is likely that the youths were tortured to death in various ways and buried in the cave. The resurrection story confusion came from the phrase “went to sleep in the Lord” which was used to describe the death of Christians and 479 is when their relics were discovered. Their names were Constantinus, Dionysius, Joannes, Malchus, Martinianus, Maximianus and Serapion. They were martyred in 250 in Ephesus (in modern Turkey); tradition says that they were walled up in a cave to suffocate but other records indicate that they were tortured to death in various ways. Their relics discovered in 479 and translated to Marseilles, France and enshrined in a large stone coffin.
Thought for the Day – 26 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY Meditations for a Month
Humility in Prayer
We are all anxious that God should hear and grant our prayers. He is always ready to do so. The obstacles are always on our side and one of the chief of these is a want of humility. If God resists the proud, He is not likely to hear their prayers; hence, one of the first prerequisites of ssuccess in my prayers, is that I should humble myself before God. Then and not until then, will my prayer reach the ears of the Most High. “The prayer of him, who humbleth himself, pierces the clouds.”
One of the most dangerous forms of pride is a contempt for others and one which we maybe very prone to manifest, without realisng its ruinous effects upon our prayers. When the self-complacent Pharisee thanked God that he was not like the poor publican, he probably was quite unconscious of the offensiveness of his prayer to God. Pride blinded him. So it often blinds us and we little think that when in prayer, we secretly congratulate ourselves on being free from certain faults which we see in our neighbours and, all the while, we are displeasing God by thus harshly judging others! How would He hear our prayers unmder these conditions!
How are we to be humble in prayer? We should be humble in prayer by dwelling upon our own miseries and the good points we see in those around us or which we should see, if our own pride did not make us blind to others’ superiority to us and, the fact that, the graces God has liberally bestowed upon us, make our ingratitude and our want of correspondence to them, all the more culpable!
Quote/s of the Day – 26 July – St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Grandmother of Jesus.
St Anne, through her constant prayer, received, the Mother of God and then, became the Grandmother of God!
“Let my prayer come like incense before Thee, O Lord.”
Psalm 140:2
“Exercise your soul! Use keeps metal brighter but disuse produces rust. … So “No-one lights a candle and puts it under a bushel but upon a candlestick that it may give light.” For of what use is wisdom, if it fails to make those who hear it wise?”
St Clement of Alexandria (c150-c215) Father of the Church
“God accepts our desires as though they were of great value. He longs ardently for us to desire to and love Him. He accepts our petitions for benefits, as though we were doing Him a favour. His joy in giving, is greater than ours in receiving. So let us not be apathetic in our asking, nor set too narrow bounds to our requests; nor ask for frivolous things unworthy of God’s greatness.”
St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Arm yourself with prayer instead of a sword; be clothed with humility instead of fine raiment.”
St Dominic OP (1170-1221)
“In prayer, the soul cleanses itself from sin, charity is nourished, faith is strengthened, hope made secure; the spirit rejoices, the soul grows tender and the heart is purified, truth discovers itself, temptation is overcome, sadness takes to flight, the senses are renewed, failing virtue is made strong, tepidity disappears, the rust of sin is rubbed away. In it are brought forth, lively flashes of heavenly desires and in these fires, burns the flame of Divine love. Great are the excellences of prayer, great its privileges. The heavens open before it and unveil therein, their secrets and to it, are the ears of God ever attentive.”
A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer Download the book, “A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer”
St Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562)
“When you pray, let it be your intention to will God’s Will alone and not your own, as well in asking as in obtaining that is, pray because God Wills you to pray and desire to be heard, insofar and, no farther, than He Wills. Your intention, in short, should be to unite your will to the Will of God and not to draw His Will to yours. And this because, your will, being infected and ruined by self-love, often errs and knows not what to ask but the Divine Will, being always united to ineffable goodness, can never err.”
One Minute Reflection – 26 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Grandmother of Jesus.– Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Jesus said in parables: The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure, hidden in a field. … Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant seeking good pearls. ”- Matthew 13:44 and 45
REFLECTION – “The two parables of the treasure and the pearl, both teach us the same thing – we should prefer the Gospel before all earthly treasures. … However, there is something even more praiseworthy than this – we should delight to give it preference, joyfully, unhesitatingly. Let us never forget this, to abandon all else, so as to follow God, is to gain more, than one loses. The preaching of the Gospel is hidden in this world like a hidden treasure, a treasure without price.
To gain this treasure … two conditions are required – the forsaking of this world’s goods and a firm determination. For, it is a question “of a merchant searching for fine pearls, when he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” This one pearl is Truth and Truth is one, it is not divided. Do you possess a pearl? Then you know your wealth, it is clenched in the palm of your hand, no-one is aware of your fortune.
So it is with the Gospel, if you embrace it with faith, if it remains enclosed in your heart, what a treasure you have You alone know it is there. Unbelievers, who know neither what it is nor what value it has, have no idea of your incredible wealth!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew’s Gospel No 47:2).
PRAYER – O God, Who in Thy kindness gave blessed Anne the grace to be the mother of her, who Mothered Thy Only-begotten Son, graciously grant that we who keep her feast, maybe helped by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Saint of the Day – 26 July – Saint Austindus of Auch (c1000-1068) Archbishop of Auch in Aquitaine, France, Reformer of the faithful, Defender of the Church and Restorer and Builder of Churches. He is the actual Founder of the Auchs Cathedral which was completed during the reign of 3 of his successors. Born in c1000 in Bordeaux, France and died in 1068 at Auch, Aquitaine of natural causes. Also known as – Ostent, Austinde. Additional Memorial – 25 September (Archdiocese of Auch, France.
St Austindus Bust and Relics in his Shrine at Auch Cathedral
Austindus became a Benedictine Monk at Saint Orens’ Abbey in Auch, then Abbot of the Monastery. He was elected as the Archbishop of Auch, shortly after the middle of the 11th Century, in place of Raymond Copa who was deposed for simony.
St Orens Abbey
A builder, he erected a Chapter House with Cloister, began a new Cathedral between 1064 and 1069. It was finally completed and consecrated in 1121. Austindus founded the Town of Nogaro and its Collegiate Church dedicated to St Nicholas. “It was Saint-Austindus, Archbishop of Auch, who founded the Town on land sold to him by Guillaume Raymond Nogaro. He wanted to hold his Councils there. Austindus had a Church built dedicated to Saint Nicholas which he Consecrated in 1060 in the midst of a large crowd of people, lords and dignitaries who had come from all over Gascony. He very quickly equipped it with a Collegiate Church and established a College of Canons and Canonesses there.” ( History of the Town – Nogaro in Armagnac)
A reformer, he had the Rule of Cluny adopted, reinstated the abolished Bishoprics of Gascony, and directed Councils and Synods.
A defender, the struggles between the Frankish Princes and the Princes of Armagnac and Gascony, had repercussions on the rights of the Church which Austindus had to defend against the encroachments of the lords. We have his signature and notes on this matter, during a Council in Jacca in Spain. But this fight against lay usurpers forced him to take refuge in Rheims for two years. He returned to his Diocese and died shortly after a Synod, in 1068.
St Nicholas Church in the Town of Nogaro both Town and Church founded and built by St Austindus
St Benigno of Malcestine Bl Camilla Gentili St Charus of Malcestine Bl Edward Thwing Bl Élisabeth-Thérèse de Consolin St Erastus Bl Évangéliste of Verona St Exuperia the Martyr Bl George Swallowell St Gérontios St Gothalm St Hyacinth Bl Hugh of Sassoferrato Bl Jacques Netsetov Bl John Ingram St Joris Bl Marie-Claire du Bac Bl Marie-Madeleine Justamond Bl Marie-Marguerite Bonnet St Olympius the Tribune
Thought for the Day – 25 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
CHARITY Meditations for a Month
The All-Importance of Charity
“If I have not charity, I am nothing.” These are the words of Holy Scripture inspired by God Himself. Unless we are united to God by the habit of supernatural charity, unless we love Him before all else, for His Own sake, with a supreme and unselfish love, we are not children of God but aliens. Unless we do these things, we have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven, we can earn no merit before God and, all that we do, has no beauty in His Sight. All our actions, however noble and generous, do not really please Him, or deserve grace in this life ,or glory in the next.
Moreover, unless there is at least an initial element of charity in our actions, they will not help us in any way on the road to Heaven. Acts of faith and hope, although they maybe performed by one who has not perfect charity, contain an unformed and rudimentary element of charity. They are the germ or bud from which charity may afterwards spring and, in this way, they lead to charity. In themselves, faith and hope gain no merit, unless they are the actions of one who already has charity in his heart.
Even if we have the habit of charity and are in a state of grace, our actions are not meritorious before God, unless they are done from a motive of charity. Charity must in some way influence faith and hope, if not with a present thought of God, yet, with the golden light of our love for Him lighting them up. Without this, they may count for nothing, or at most, merit only a natural reward. If I give money purely out of natural compassion and pity, I gain a temporal but not, an eternal reward. How careful I must be to offer to God each act of charity to men!
Quote/s of the Day – 25 July – The Feast of St James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr and of St Christopher (died c 251) One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
A Prayer to St James “Santiago”
O brave Apostle, Santiago the first to drink the Chalice of suffering after the example of Christ, Who had shed His Blood for thee, obtain from Him, I beseech thee, the grace that I may not fear, to drink of the Chalice, of pain and suffering but may patiently bear, all which the Hand of my God offers me, that I may, one day, be worthy to enjoy, in thy society, the joy of Heaven. Amen
The Christopher Prayer, Make Us True Christ-Bearers Anonymous
Father, grant that we may be, bearers of Christ Jesus, Thy Son. Allow us to fill, the world around us, with Thy Light. Strengthen us, by Thy Holy Ghost, to carry out our mission of living and following the path of Jesus, our Lord. Help us to understand, that by Thy grace our gifts are Thy blessings, to be shared with others. Fill us with Thy Spirit of love to give glory to Thee in loving all and preaching by our love. Nourish in us the desire to go forth as the bearers of Thy Son fearless and gentle, loving and merciful. Make us true Christ-Bearers, that in seeing us, only He is visible. Amen.
The “fourteen Angels” of the lost children’s prayer in the Composer, Engelbert Humperdinck’s (1854-1921) (not the popular Welsh singer) fairy opera, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, are the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The English words are familiar and very beautiful:
When at night, I go to sleep, Fourteen angels, watch do keep, Two my head are guarding, Two my feet are guiding; Two upon my right hand, Two upon my left hand. Two who warmly cover Two who o’er me hover, Two to whom ’tis given To guide my steps to Heaven.
One Minute Reflection – 25 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – The Feast of St James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr – 1 Corinthians 4:9-15; Matthew 20:20-23– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“ You know not what you ask. Can you drink the Chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22
REFLECTION – “Christ laid down His life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 Jn 3:16) … Jesus said to Peter: “When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted but when you grow old, … someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go …” (Jn 21:18). It was the Cross, the Passion, he promised him. “Go even so far as to pasture My sheep, suffer for My sheep.” This is what a good Bishop is to be. If he is not, he is no Bishop!
… Now listen to this other testimony. Two of His disciples, the brothers John and James, who were sons of Zebedee, were ambitious for the first place, without consideration for the others. … Our Lord answered them: “You do not know what you are asking” for He added: “Can you drink the Chalice that I shall drink?” What cup is this if not that … of the Passion?… And they, forgetting their weakness, immediately said: “We can.” Then He said to them: “My Chalice you will indeed drink. But to sit at My right or at My left,is not Mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”… In this way, He gave proof of His humility, for in fact, everything the Father prepares is prepared too, for the Son … He came in humility – He, the Creator, was created amongst us; He made us but He was made for us. God before time began, man in time, He delivered man from time. This great Physician has come to heal our cancer … by His example, He has come to heal pride itself.
This is what we must give our attention to in the Lord – let us consider His humility, drink the Cup of His humility, clasp Him, contemplate Him. How easy it is to have elevated thoughts, easy to take pleasure in honours, easy to give one’s ear to flatterers and people who praise us. But to bear with insult, patiently undergo humiliation, pray for those who persecute us (Mt 5:39.44) – that is the Lord’s Cup, that is the Lord’s Feast!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Extract from a Sermon for the Ordination of a Bishop).
PRAYER – Protect Thy people and make them holy, O Lord, so that, guarded by the help of Thy Apostle James, they may please Thee by their conduct and serve Thee with peace of mind. Through esus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 25 July – The Feast of St James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr
Aeterna Christi Munera The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King By St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church
The eternal gifts of Christ the King, The Apostles’ glory let us sing. And al,l with hearts of gladness raise, Due hymns of thankful love and praise! For they the Church’s Princes are, Triumphant leaders in the warrior band, True lights to lighten every land.
Theirs was the steadfast faith of Saints, The hope which never yields nor faints, The love of Christ in perfect glow, That lay the prince of this world low, In them, the Father’s glory shone, In them, the Spirit’s will was done.
The Son Himself, exults in them, Joy fills the new Jerusalem. Praise to the Father, with the Son, And Holy Ghost, three in One; As ever was in ages past, And so shall be while ages last. Amen.
The Authorship of this Hymn is generally attributed to St Ambrose. He intended this composition of eight strophes to be used on the Feast Days of Martyrs. In the course of time, however,, the Hymn was selected for use on the Feast Days of the Apostles too. In each case, the Hymn praises the victory of the Apostles or Martyrs and expresses admiration for their constancy in specifically described trials and sufferings.
Saint of the Day – 25 July – St Cugat del Valles (Died c304) Lay Martyr, Preacher, Evangeliser, Miracle-worker. Born in North Africa and died by beheading in 304 near Barcelona, Spain. Pstronages – of hunchbacks, petty thieves, of the City of St Cugat del Valles in Spain. Also known as – Cobad, Cocoba, Cocobas, Cophan, Cougat, Covade, Cucao, Cucufa, Cucufas, Cucufat, Cucufate, Cucuphas, Cucuphat, Culgat, Guinefort, Gulnefort, Qaqophas, Qoqofas, Quiquefat, Quiquenfat. At Barcelona he is called Saint Cugat, at Ruel, near Paris, Saint Quiquenfat, in some other parts of France, Saint Guinefort. Additional Memorials – 27 July – in Barcelona to avoid a clash with today’s Feast of St James, 16 February (translation of relics to Léberan), 25 August (translation of relics to Saint-Denis).
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Barcelona in Spain, during the persecution of Diocletian and under the Governor Darian, the birthday of the holy Martyr Cucuphas. After overcoming many torments, he was struck with the sword and thus went triumphantly to Heaven.”
Saint Cugat is one of the most venerated Saints in Spain but all that history has preserved of him is contained in a poem by the renowned Aurelius Prudentius (a Latin Christian poet of Spanish origin, (c348 – c413) ) who dedicates this short expression to him: “Barcelona will rise from the famous Cucufate.”
There is no certainty about the time of his Martyrdom, which. however. occurred during the persecution of Diocletian (243-313) and is placed at the beginning of the 4th Century. An anonymous author compiled the ‘Acts’ of the Martyrdom in the 8th Century but does not present historical elements.
Cugat and Felix, originally from Scillium in Africa, both noble and rich, having learned of the persecutions which had begun in the eastern provinces, fled to the West.
But when they landed in Barcelona, they realised that persecution was imminent there too, so as Christians they offered their goods to the poor, dedicating themselves to works of mercy and the spread of the Christian Gospel.
St Cugat del Valles Monastery and Church
Felix moved to Gerona in Catalonia, while Cugat remained in Barcelona, dedicating himself openly to preaching, which was accompanied by numerous miracles. He was arrested by order of the Proconsul Galerius and was tortured so savagely that his intestines were exposed, while he invoked the Lord God. The ‘Passio’ continues, saying that the twelve soldiers who tortured him were blinded by a flash of fire, while Galerius was burned together with the idols. Cugat.however, suddenly found himself completely unharmed.
In place of Galerius, Maximian, inflicting various and unheard of torments but again, miraculously he was Cugat suffered no injury. Then an Officer of the Prefect Dacianus, a certain Rufinus, intervened and had him beheaded.
His body was collected by the Christians and buried on 25 July of an unspecified year and place. But, in the middle of the 8th Century, the Abbot of St Denis near Paris, St Fulrad (Died784), managed to obtain the Relics of St Cugat, taking them to the Priory of Lièvre in Alsace (France) where they were placed, in the cell of St Fulrad. In 835 the Relics or a part thereof, were brought to St Denis by order of the Abbot Ilduinus and placed in the crypt of the Abbey Church.
In the early years of the 9th Century, the famous Benedictine Abbey of St Cugat del Vallés arose near Barcelona in a place called Octavian. In 1079, the Relics of an unknown Martyr were recognised as those of St Cugat, as only the head of the Martyr killed in Barcelona had been taken to France.
St Cugat’s Monastery C;oister
Several Churches are dedicated to him both in Spain and in France The various Martyrologies including the Roman celebrate him on 25 July. But, in Barcelona, St Cugat is celebrated on 27 July to avoide the ovvious clash with the celebration of St James the Apostle.
In the Museum of Catalanese Art in Barcelona, there is a painting by the Artist Ajna Brù, which depicts the very dramatic and violent scene of the beheading of St Cugat, with a large knife, giving particular emphasis to the perfidious and evil expression of the executioner – see the image above.
Bl Antonio of Olmedo St Bantu of Trier St Beatus of Trier St Cugat del Valles (Died c304) Lay Martyr St Ebrulfus St Fagildo of Santiago St Felix of Furcona St Florentius of Furcona St Glodesind of Metz
St Mordeyren St Nissen of Wexford St Olympiad of Constantinople St Paul of Palestine
Blessed Pietro Corradini OFM (1435–1490) Priest of the Franciscan Friars Minor, Confessor, Preacher, Spiritual Director. Pietro and a great devotion to the Holy Mother and constantly taught love of her. Fr Pietro served in several leadership positions within his Order. The Beatification process commenced not too long after Fr Pietro’s death and culminated on 10 August 1760 after Pope Clement XIII issued a formal decree that approved Corradini’s local ‘cultus’ thus naming him Blessed. A Special Child of Mary: https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/25/saint-of-the-day-25-july-blessed-pietro-corradini-ofm-1435-1490-priest/
St Theodemir of Cordoba
Martyrs of Caesarea – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together in the pesecutions of emperor Maximilian and governor Firmilian – Paul, Tea and Valentina. 309 in Caesarea, Palestine.
Martyrs of Cuncolim, Goa, south western India– 20 Saints: On 15 July 1583 the group met at the Church of Orlim and hiked to Cuncolim to erect a Cross and choose land for a new Church. Local anti-Christian Hindu pagans, seeing the unarmed Christians, gathered their weapons and marched on them. One of the Parishioners, a Portuguese emigre named Gonçalo Rodrigues, carried a firearm but Father Alphonsus Pacheco stopped him from using it. The Hindu pagans, numbering at least 500, then fell upon them and killed them all without mercy. They were – • Alphonsus Pacheco • Alphonsus the altar boy • Anthony Francis • Dominic of Cuncolim • Francis Aranha • Francis Rodrigues • Gonçalo Rodrigues • Paul da Costa • Peter Berno • Rudolph Acquaviva • ten other native Christian converts whose names have not come down to us They were Martyred on Monday 25 July 1583 at the village of Cuncolim, district of Salcete, territory of Goa, India. They were Beatified on 30 April 1893 by Pope Leo XIII.
Thought for the Day – 24 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
CHARITY Meditations for a Month
Charity and Self-love
If charity really promotes our highest interests and, even in its most disinterested form, ministers to our good, how is it that it is so often compared with self-love? When we speak of self-love, we do not mean the true love of self which is identical with charity. We mean the love of our lower self. We mean the choice of some immediate good instead of the far higher and nobler good which we shall secure by sacrifice of the lower good. Self-love is the love of the child for the unwholesome sweets which it knows will produce sickness on the morrow. How often my self-love has led me to grasp at the passing enjoyment instead of the solid happiness, I should have gained, by renouncing it.
Self-love does a still more mischievous work. It leads us to thrust ourselves into a position we know is a false one, in order to gratify our desire for independence and for liberty. Self-love hates subjection and is thus diametrically opposed to charity which loves to be subject. Self-love hates the lowest place or humble work and yearns after notoriety or prominence. Charity appreciates the nothingness of self and desires that God should be all in all!
Self-love, again, cannot endure any sort of reproof or correction. It rebels against those things and longs to revenge itself. It is thus, no true love of self, for he who really loves himself, or rather, who finds his highest happiness in preferring God to self, welcomes anything which tends to lower self and to make God the exclusive object of his love. Thus, in hating self, he loves self with a true self-love and will reach charity. Is this my relationship to self?
Quote/s of the Day – 24 July – St Francisco Solano OFM (1549 – 1610) “The Wonder Worker of the New World”
“How is it, my Lord Jesus, that Thou wast Crucified while I have Thy servants to care for me; Thou wast naked, while I am clothed; Thou wast struck with blows and crowned with thorns, while I have everything I need to satisfy my wants and give me consolation?”
“It is true that I am going to Heaven but on the strength of Christ’s Passion and Death; for myself, I am the greatest of sinners. But I will be a good friend to you when I reach my home in Heaven.”
“God chose Francis Solano to be the hope and edification of all Peru. the example and glory of Lima, the splendour of the Seraphic Order!”
From the Funeral Oration in 1610
St Francisco Solano OFM (1549 – 1610) “The Wonder Worker of the New World
One Minute Reflection – 24 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Christina of Bolsena (3rd Century) Virgin Martyr – Ecclesiasticus Sir 44:25-27; 45:2-4; 45:6-9; John 15:12-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“This is My commandment that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:12-13
REFLECTION – “We cannot truly love God without loving our neighbour, nor can we truly love our neighbour without loving God. This is why … the Holy Ghost was given a second time to the disciples. First He was given by the Lord while He was still dwelling on earth and later, while He was watching over us in Heaven (Jn 20:22; Acts 2). He was given to us on earth, that we may love our neighbours; from Heaven, that we may love God. Why first on earth and later from Heaven – except for the reason given us openly by John: “How can anyone, who does not love his brother, whom he sees love God Whom he does not see?”
So let us love our neighbours, my friends, let us love the one who is near us, so that we may be able to attain, the love of the One, Who is above us! Let our hearts reflect on what our neighbours hold up to God, so that we may be found completely worthy, to rejoice in God with them. Then shall we reach the happiness of the heavenly multitude, the happiness of which, we have received an assurance from the Holy Spirit. Let us move forward toward that goal, where we shall be happy without end, with all our love. There is the holy community of heavenly citizens, there is the sure and solemn observance, there untroubled rest, there the true peace which is no longer dependent on us but given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 14:27).” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Excerpt Sermons on the Gospel No 30).
PRAYER – O God, Who among the other miracles of Thy power have bestowed the victory of martyrdom even upon the weaker sex, graciously grant that we, who commemorate the anniversary of the death of blessed Christina, Your Virgin and Martyr, may come to Thee by the path of her example.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 24 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”
By the Merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus By Servant of God Pope Pius VII (1742-1823) Papacy from 1800 to 1823 Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father
Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my wants, spiritual and temporal, in aid of the Holy Souls in Purgatory and chiefly for those who most loved this Precious Blood, the price of our Redemption and who were most devout to the sorrows and pains of most Holy Mary, our dear Mother.
Glory be to the Blood of Jesus, now and forever and throughout all ages. Amen.
Indulgence of 300 days, each time this prayed is offered, 22 September 1817 with a Plenary Indulgence, once a month, under the usual conditions.
Note of Interest:On 15 August 1811 – the Feast of the Assumption – it is recorded that the Pope celebrated Mass and was said to have entered a trance and began to levitate in a manner that drew him to the Altar. This particular episode aroused great wonder and awe among attendants, which included the French soldiers guarding him, who were awestruck at what had occurred and left records of it.
Saint of the Day – 24 July – Saint Ursicinus (Died c380) Bishop of Sens in France and Confessor, a powerful opponent of the Arians.
The Roman Martyrology mentions him today: “At Sens, St Ursicinus, Bishop and Confessor.”
Unknown Bishop Saint
During Ursicinus’ Ep[iscopate, the heresy of Arianism had gained significant ground within Sens and its surrounding regions. Recognising the danger it posed to his flock, Ursicinus vehemently opposed this heresy, engaging in debates and sermons to combat its spread. Through his charismatic preaching and unwavering commitment to the truth, Ursicinus was able to convince many of the error of Arianism and restore orthodoxy within the region.
St Ursicinus dies of natural causes in around 380 and is celebrated today, 24 July.
St Aliprandus of Pavia St Antinogenes of Merida St Aquilina the Martyr St Arnulf of Gruyere Bl Balduino of Rieti St Boris of Kiev St Capito
St Christina Mirabilis/the Astonishing (1150-1224) Virgin, mendicant, Penitent, Mystic. St Christina the Astonishing has been recognised as a Saint since the 12th century. She was placed in the calendar of the saints by at least two bishops of the Catholic Church in two different centuries (17th & 19th Her Amazing Life: https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/24/saint-of-the-day-24-july-saint-christina-mirabilis-1150-1224/
St Cyriacus of Ziganeus St Declan of Ardmore Bl Diego Martinez Bl Donatus of Urbino
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