Posted in EYES - Diseases, of the BLIND, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 3 February – Saint Lawrence the Illuminator (Died 576) Bishop

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 3 February – Saint Lawrence the Illuminator (Died 576) Bishop, Peacemaker – graced with the charism of granting clarity of understanding to both sides of disagreeing parties, Founded the Farfa Monastery where he died. Born in Syria and died in 576 at the Monastery at Farfa, Italy, of natural causes. Patronages – against eye diseases and blindness, of the blind – both bodily and spiritual cases. Also known as – Lawrence of Spoleto, Laurence …

Lawrence was driven into exile from Antioch, in 514, with 300 faithful during the persecution by the Monophysite patriarch, Severus of Antioch.

He was Ordained to the Priesthood in Rome and sent to preach in Umbria, where he founded a Monastery near Spoleto. He was elected as the Bishop of Spoleto and served as its prelate for 20 years. He then resigned and retired to the famous Monastery of Farfa in the Sabine Hills near Rome which he had founded.

Saint Lawrence was renowned as a peacemaker who helped the parties to see the situation from the other side. It is said that he attained the surname “the Illuminator” because he had a special gift for curing blindness – both physical and spiritual .

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

First Saturday, St Scholastica Novena – The THIRD DAY, Our Lady of Saideneida, Damascus, Nuestra Señora / The Virgin of Suyapa, Honduras (c1747) St Blaise and the Saints for 3 February

Posted on by AnaStpaul

First Saturday and Our Lady’s Saturday

St Scholastica Novena – The THIRD DAY:
CLICK LINK BELOW
St Scholastica Novena

St Blaise (Died c316) Martyr Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia, Physician, Miracle-worker.
St Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers – https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/25/thought-for-the-day-25-july-the-memorial-of-st-christopher-died-c-251-one-of-the-fourteen-holy-helpers/
All about St Blaise:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/saint-of-the-day-st-blaise-died-c-316-martyr/

Our Lady of Saideneida, Damascus – 3 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/03/feast-of-our-lady-of-saideneida-damascus-and-memorials-of-the-saints-3-february/

Nuestra Señora de Suyapa / Our Lady of Suyapa OR Virgen de Suyapa / The Virgin of Suyapa, Honduras (c1747) Patron of Honduras, Central America and The Orden de los Caballeros de Suyapa – 3 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/03/our-lady-of-saideneida-damascus-nuestra-senora-de-suyapa-our-lady-of-suyapa-honduras-c1747-st-blaise-died-c316-martyr-bishop-and-memorials-of-the-saints-3-february/

St Anatolius of Salins

St Ansgar OSB (801-865) “Apostle of the North”, Bishop
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-saint-ansgar-osb-801-865-apostle-of-the-north/

St Anna the Prophetess
St Berlinda of Meerbeke
St Blasius of Armentarius
St Blasius of Oreto
St Caellainn
St Celerinus of Carthage
St Clerina of Carthage
St Deodatus of Lagny
St Eutichio
St Evantius of Vienne
St Felix of Africa
St Felix of Lyons

St Hadelin of Chelle (Died c690) Priest, Monk, Hermit, Founder of Monasteries, Miracle-worker.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-saint-hadelin-of-chelles-c617-c690/

Bl Helinand of Pronleroy
St Hippolytus of Africa
St Ia of Cornwall
St Ignatius of Africa

Blessed John Nelson SJ (1535-1578) Martyr, Priest of the Society of Jesus. Martyred during the reign of Elizabeth I. He was Beatified on 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-blessed-john-nelson-sj-1535-1578-priest-martyr/

St Laurentius of Carthage
St Lawrence the Illuminator ) Died 576) Bishop
St Leonius of Poitiers
St Liafdag
St Lupicinus of Lyon
St Margaret of England
St Oliver of Ancona
St Philip of Vienne
St Remedius of Gap
St Sempronius of Africa
St Tigrides
St Werburga of Bardney
St Werburga of Chester

Benedictine Martyrs: A collective memorial of all members of the Benedictine Order who have died as Martyrs for the Faith.

Posted in QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 2 February – Of the Way to Resist the Impulses of Sense (Part Two)

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Thought for the Day – 2 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

XIII: … Of the Way to Resist the Impulses of Sense
and of the Acts to be Performed by the Will
in order to Acquire Habits of Virtue (Part Two)

“Suppose you are assailed by feelings of impatience.
Look carefully into yourself and you will find that these feelings are constantly directed against the superior will, in order to win its consent.

Now then, begin the first exercise and by repeated acts of the will, do all in your power to stifle each feeling, as it arises that your will may not consent to it.
And never desist from this, until, wearied unto death, your enemy yields himself vanquished.
But see here the malice of the devil!
When he perceives that we resist the first movements of any passion, not only does he desist from exciting them but when excited, he endeavours, for the time, to allay them, lest, by the exercise of resistance to the passion, we should acquire the habit of the opposite virtue.
He would fain also betray us into the snares of pride and vainglory, by subtly insinuating to us that, like valiant soldiers, we have quickly trampled down our enemies.

Proceed, therefore, to the second conflict, recalling and exciting within yourself those thoughts which tempted you to impatience, until they sensibly affect you.
Then set yourself to repress every such feeling with a stronger will and more earnest endeavour than before.
And because, however strenuously we have resisted our enemies, from a sense of duty and a desire to please God, we are still in danger, unless we hold them in perfect detestation, of being one day overcome, attack them again even a third time and repel them, not with repugnance only but with indignation, until they have become hateful and abominable in your sight.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/25/thought-for-the-day-25-january-of-the-way-to-resist-the-impulses-of-sense-part-one/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 2 February – ‘… What shall we give Him? …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 2 February – The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Candlemas – Malachias 3:1-4, Luke 2:22-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

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

“But what shall we offer, brothers,
what shall we give Him
for all the benefits He has given us?
He offered the most precious Victim
He possessed for our sake;
in truth, He could not have had
anything more precious.
So let us, too,
do what we can,
let us offer Him the best we have,
that is to say, ourselves!
He offered Himself,
so who are you,
to hesitate to offer yourself?”

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

“Let us try and live like Simeon,
with our minds and hearts turned towards Jesus.
Let us think chiefly of Him,
love Him, above everything else
and work only for Him.
Then our death will be as beautiful as his.
In fact, we shall be even more fortunate,
for we can go further than receiving Jesus into our arms.
We shall be able to receive Him into out hearts.
He will be at hand to give us the supernatural strength
which we shall need on our great journey into eternity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-february-carrying-jesus/

Posted in "Follow Me", ArchAngels and Angels, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, Quotes on SALVATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 February – ‘… Be a lamp then in heart, in hand, in lips. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 2 February – The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Candlemas – Malachias 3:1-4; Luke 2:22-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“My eyes have seen Thy salvation …” – Luke 2:30

REFLECTION – “Come then, my brethren, give an eye to that candle burning in Simeon’s hands. Light your candles too by borrowing from that Light; for these candles I speak of are the lamps which the Lord orders us to have in our hands (Mt 25:1; Lk 12:35). Come to Him and be enlightened (Ps 33:6), so as to be not merely carrying lamps but to be very lamps yourselves, shining inside and out, for yourselves and for your neighbours.

Be a lamp then in heart, in hand, in lips. The lamp in your heart will shine for you; the lamp in your hand or on your lips, will shine out for your neighbours. The lamp in the heart is loving faith; the lamp in the hand is the example of good works; the lamp on the lips is edifying speech. But not just before men, must we shine by works and word but before Angels too, by prayer and before God Himself by pure Intention. Our lamp before the Angels is the purity of our devotion, when, in the sight of Angels, we chant the Psalms with care, or pray with burning ardour; our lamp before God is the honesty of our intention to please Him only, Whose approval we have won…

There are so many lamps then, my brethren, to lighten your way, if only you will come to the Source of all Light and be enlightened. Come, I say, to Jesus, Who shines out to us from Simeon’s arms. He will give Light to your faith, lustre to your works, meaning to your words for men, ardour to your prayer, purity to your intentions … And when this life’s lamp is extinguished, there will arise a life’s Light which can never be extinguished, a shimmering noonday Light, arising, as it were, at the evening of your life!” – Blessed Guerric of Igny O.Cist. (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot (1st Sermon for the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, we humbly beseech Thy Majesty that, as Thy Only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the nature of our flesh, so may Thou grant us to be presented to Thee with purified minds. 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). Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 2 February – Candlemas

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 2 February – The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Candlemas

Candlemas
By John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
The Oratory, 1849.

The Angel-lights of Christmas morn,
Which shot across the sky,
Away they pass at Candlemas,
They sparkle and they die.

Comfort of earth is brief at best,
Although it be divine;
Like funeral lights for Christmas gone,
Old Simeon’ s tapers shine.

And then for eight long weeks and more,
We wait in twilight grey,
Till the High Candle sheds a beam
On Holy Saturday.

We wait along the penance-tide
Of solemn fast and prayer,
Whilst song is hushed and lights grow dim,
In the sin-laden air.

And while the sword in Mary’s soul
Is driven home, we hide
In our own hearts and count, the wounds
Of passion and of pride.

And still, though Candlemas be spent
And alleluias o’er,
Mary is music in our need.
And Jesus, Light in store.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 2 February – St Jeanne de Lestonnac ODN (1556-1640) Widow, Founder

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Saint of the Day – 2 February – St Jeanne de Lestonnac ODN (1556-1640) Widow, Mother, Founder of the The Sisters of the Company of Mary, Our Lady ODN (Latin: Ordinis Dominae Nostrae).  Born on 27 December 1556 at Bordeaux, France and died on 2 February 1640 of natural causes. Patronages – of widows, abuse victims.  Also known as – Jane de Lestonnac, Joan de Lestonnac, Joanne. Additional Memorial – 15 May on some Calendars.

Jeanne was born in Bordeaux in 1556 to Richard de Lestonnac, a member of the Parlement of Bordeaux and Jeanne Eyquem, the sister of the noted philosopher, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne. She grew up in a time where the conflict between the Protestants and the defenders of the Catholic Faith was at its height. This was evident in her own family. While her mother became an enthusiastic Calvinist and tried to persuade her to convert, her father and her uncle Montaigne, adhered to the Catholic Faith and were her support in withstanding her own mother’s influence. Jeanner remained a devoted Catholic.

At the age of 17 she married Gaston de Montferrant, with whom she had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. She was married for 24 years when her husband died. This marked the beginning of a very painful period in her life, with the further loss, within seven months, of her father, uncle and eldest son.

Copy of a Portrait of an 18-year old woman, attributed to Pieter Pourbus, 1574, in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, possibly St Jeanne de Lestonnac (1556-1640).

Following her husband’s death, Jeanne, at the age of 46 and with her children now grown, turned to a contemplative life and entered the Cistercian Monastery in Toulouse, where she was given the religious name of “Jeanne of Saint Bernard.” She found great peace and satisfaction in the monastic life but, after six months, she became very ill and had to leave the Monastery. She then went to live on her estate La Mothe Lusié to recover her health and where she adopted the lifestyle of a secular Sister, performing many acts of charity, including food and alms distribution and Jeanne regularly met with young women of her social class, to pray and discuss religious questions. She sought for models of Catholic women to be her guides and cultivated an interest in the lives of St Scholastica, St Clare of Assisi, St Catherine of Siena and St Teresa of Avila.

A few years later, in 1605, an epidemic of the Plague erupted in Bordeaux. At risk to her own life, Jeanne returned to her native City to help care for the sick and suffering in the slums and poorest regions of Bordeaux.

Jeanne’s brother, a Jesuit attached to the college in Bordeaux, arranged a meeting between his sister and two Jesuit Priests – Jean de Bordes and François de Raymond. The Jesuits asked her to serve as founder of a new teaching order for young women. They encouraged her to establish for girls, in terms of formal education, what they were doing for boys. The three decided upon a cloistered community to follow the Benedictine Rule, modified to allow Sisters to teach. The group gained the approval of Pope Paul V in 1607. The community took the name of the Compagnie de Notre-Dame.

An old priory was purchased near the Château Trompette but moved in September 1610, to a larger old Monastery on Rue du Hâ. They were well-received and financially supported by the City’s elite. The first five members of the new Order took their religious vows on 10 December 1610. The community established its first school for girls in Bordeaux. Foundations proceeded in Beziers, Périgueux and Toulouse through Jeanne’s personal connections, as well as her connections with the Jesuits and Bordelaise political elite. By the time she died in 1640, 30 Houses existed in France that is roughly one new foundation per year for 30 years.

Two of her daughters and at least one granddaughter had now joined the Order. Revised Rules and Constitutions for the congregation were drawn up in 1638. Joeanne was now over 80 and her health was beginning to fail. She spent her last years in seclusion as she prepared for death. But in her last years she was highly honoured by her Order. She died peacefully on 2 February 1640 in Bordeaux, aged 84, just after the sisters had renewed their vows on the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady. Her body is said to have been as healthy and emitted a sweet smell for several days afterwards. She was buried in the Cemetery of the Convent in Rue du Ha.

St Jeanne was Beatified on 23 December 1900 by Pope Leo XIII and was CanoniSed on 15 May 1949 by Pope Pius XII. As of 2016, her religious order has over 1,450 Sisters found in 27 Countries throughout Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOMINICAN OP, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, NOVENAS, SAINT of the DAY

First Friday, Feast of the Purification of Our Lady – Candlemas Day, St Scholastica Novena – The SECOND DAY and Memorials of the Saints – 2 February

Posted on by AnaStpaul

First Friday

Feast of the Purification of Our Lady – Candlemas Day
About:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/02/feast-of-the-purification-of-our-lady-the-presentation-of-our-lord-in-the-temple-candlemas-day-2-february/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/02/feast-of-the-presentation-of-the-lord-2-february/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/02/feast-of-the-presentation-of-the-lord-in-the-temple-2-february/

Our Lady of the Candles – Nuestra Señora de la Purificación y la Candelaria, is a Marian title and image venerated by Filipino Catholics. The image, which is enshrined on the balcony of Jaro Cathedral, is known as the Patroness of Jaro District of Iloilo City and the whole of the Western Visayas.
The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Candles is on Candlemas (2 February) and is celebrated in Iloilo City with a Solemn Pontifical Mass presided by the Archbishop of Jaro.

St Scholastica Novena – The SECOND DAY:
CLICK LINK BELOW
St Scholastica Novena

St Adalbald of Ostrevant
St Adeloga of Kitzingen
St Agathodoros of Tyana
St Apronian the Executioner
Bl Bernard of Corbara
St Bruno of Ebsdorf
St Candidus the Martyr
St Columbanus of Ghent
St Cornelius the Centurion
St Felician the Martyr
St Feock
St Firmus of Rome
St Flosculus of Orléans
St Fortunatus the Martyr
St Hilarus the Martyr
St Jeanne de Lestonnac (1556-1640) Widow, Mother, Founder

St Lawrence of Canterbury (Died 2 February 619) The Second Archbishop of Canterbury, the successor of St Augustine of Canterbury from 604 until his death in 619, but he was Consecrated as Archbishop by his predecessor, St Augustine, during Augustine’s lifetime, to ensure continuity in the office, Benedictine Monk, Missionary. He was a member of the Gregorian mission sent from Italy to England to Christianise the Anglo-Saxons.
About St Lawrence:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/02/saint-of-the-day-2-february-saint-lawrence-of-canterbury-died-619/

Blessed Luigi Giuseppe Bellesini OSA (1774-1840) Priest and Friar of the Hermits of St Augustine, teacher, mentor to the youth, Parish Priest, guardian of the poor and sick.
Such a Wonderful Saint:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/02/saint-of-the-day-2-february-blessed-stephen-luigi-giuseppe-bellesini-osa-1774-1840-priest/

St Marquard of Hildesheim
St Mun

Blessed Peter Cambiano OP (1320-1365) Martyr, Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Confessor, renowned Preacher calling many to conversion by his holy zeal and the power of his words. Martyred by heretics. Beatified on 4 December 1856 by Pope Pius IX.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/02/saint-of-the-day-2-february-blessed-peter-cambiano-op-1320-1365/

St Rogatus the Martyr
St Saturninus the Martyr
St Sicharia of Orleans
St Simon of Cassia Fidati
St Theodoric of Ninden
St Victoria the Martyr

Posted in Against STORMS, EARTHQUAKES, THUNDER & LIGHTENING, FIRES, DROUGHT / NATURAL DISASTERS, For RAIN OR Against RAIN, NOVENAS, Of Catholic Education, Students, Schools, Colleges etc

St Scholastica Novena – Day One – 1 February

Posted on by AnaStpaul

St Scholastica Novena

St Scholastica was the twin sister of St Benedict (480-547) and the Foundress of the Benedictine Nuns. As twins, St Scholastica and St Benedict were naturally born together and died within 6 weeks of each other.
She is the Patron of Schools and Education, especially – tests and reading; of Convulsive children; Nuns; invoked against storms, lightening; rain.
Normally prayed from 1 February until the 9th, in preparation for her Feast day on the 10 February.

O God, Thou caused the soul
of Thy blessed virgin Scholastica,
to enter heaven in the form of a dove,
to show us the way of innocence.
Grant us, by her prayers and merits,
to live in such innocence
that we may deserve to attain eternal joys.
Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
ever one God, world without end.
Amen.
V. By the example and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, keep us faithful to Thy Word.
R. Hear us, O Lord.
V. By the example and intercession of St Scholastica,
keep us rooted in Thy love.
R. Hear us, O Lord.
V. By the example and intercession of all the holy virgins,
keep us firm in prayer and charity.
R. Hear us, O Lord.

(Mention your request here…)

Lord our God, Thou robed the virgin St Scholastica
with the beauty and splendour of love.
Help us to walk blamelessly before Thee,
so that in the company of virgins,
we may praise Thy Name forever
and find our delight in Thee,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be …

Saint Scholastica, Pray for Us!

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St Francis de Sales, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

February Devotion – The Most Holy and Blessed Trinity

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Traditional Catholic Devotion for February

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

The Sign of the Cross

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

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

An Act of Oblation to the Most Blessed Trinity
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

I vow and consecrate to God
all that is in me,
my memory and my actions,
to God the Father;
my understanding and my words,
to God the Son;
my will and my thoughts,
to God the Holy Spirit.
I consecrate my heart, my body,
my tongue, my senses and all my sorrows,
to the Sacred Humanity of Jesus Christ,
Who consented to be betrayed
into the hands of wicked men
and to suffer the torment
of the Cross for me.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY NINE, 1 February

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Candlemas Novena – DAY NINE

DAY NINE

Virgin most resigned,
who didst feel thy soul
transfixed with sorrow
when in spirit, thou didst foresee
all the bitter passion of thy Son
and, knowing the grief of St Joseph,
thy Spouse, for all thy sufferings,
didst, with holy words console him.
Pierce our souls,
through and through,
with true sorrow for our sins
that we may one day,
possess the consolation
of being made partakers
of thy glory in Heaven.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of theNovenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY EIGHT, 31 January

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Candlemas Novena – DAY EIGHT

DAY EIGHT

Virgin most compassionate
when, through thy divine Son,
thou didst fill the soul of Anna,
the prophetess, with light,
thou didst make her magnify
the mercies of God
by recognising Jesus,
as the Redeemer of the world.
Enrich our souls with heavenly grace
that we, may largely share,
the fruit of the Divine Redemption.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of theNovenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY SEVEN, 30 January

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Candlemas Novena – DAY SEVEN, 30 JANUARY:

DAY SEVEN

Virgin most meek,
on hearing the prophecy of Simeon
foretelling thy woes,
thou didst promptly bow
to the good pleasure of Go.
Enable us too,
to bear all troubles
with patience and resignation
to His Divine Will.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY SIX, 29 January

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NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY SIX 29 JANUARY:

DAY SIX

Virgin most zealous,
by redeeming* thy Son, Jesus,
according to the Law,
thou didst co-operate
in the salvation of the world:.
Ransom now, our poor hearts,
from the slavery of sin
that so they maybe ever pure,
before the face of God.
Amen

  • Footnote to Day Six:
    Of course, Our Lord Jesus Christ, as God Incarnate,
    did not need to be redeemed.
    However, He and Our Lady, fulfilled all the precepts of the Law.
    This is the sense in which this day’s prayer is to be understood.

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of theNovenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in CATECHESIS, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), St Francis de Sales, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 29 January – “The Difference between –Placing ourselves in God’s Presence and Staying in God’s Presence” by St Francis de Sales

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Thought for the Day – 29 January – The Feast of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop, Confessor – Doctor of the Church: Doctor Caritatis (Doctor of Charity) “The Gentle Christ of Geneva” and “The Gentleman Saint.”

“The Difference between –
Placing ourselves in God’s Presence and
Staying in God’s Presence”

From a letter of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
to St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
dated 16 January 1610

“Staying in God’s Presence and placing ourselves in God’s Presence are, to my mind, are two different things.

In order to place ourselves in His presence, we have to withdraw our soul from every other object and make it attentive to that Presence at this very moment, as I have explained in the book.[Introduction to the Devout Life]
But once we are there, we remain there, as long as, either out intellect or our will, is active in regard to God.
We look either at Him, or at something else, for love of Him; or, not looking at anything at all, we speak to Him; or again, without either looking at Him or speaking to Him, we just stay there where He has placed us, like a statue in its niche.
And if, while we are there, we also have some sense that we belong to God and that He is our All, then we must certainly thank Him for this.

If a statue which had been placed in a niche, in some room, had the ability to speak and were asked “Why are you there?” it would answer, “Because my master, the sculptor, has put me here.”
“Why do you not move out?”
“Because he wants me to be perfectly still.”
“What use are you there? What do you gain by staying like this?” “I’m not here for my own benefit but to serve and obey the will of my master.”
“But you do not see him.”
“No but he sees me and is pleased that I am here where he has put me.”
“But would you not like to be able to move about and to get closer to him?
“No, not unless he ordered me to.”
“Is there not anything at all which you wish then?”
“No because I am where my master put me and all my happiness lies in pleasing him.”

Dear daughter, what a good way of praying and what a fine way of staying in God’s Presence – doing what He wants and accepting what pleases Him!
It seems to me that Mary of Bethany was a statue in her niche when, without saying a word, without moving and perhaps, even without looking at Him, she sat at Our Lord’s feet and listened to what He was saying.
When He spoke, she listened; whenever He paused, she stopped listening but always, she was right there (Lk 10:39).
A little child who is at its mother’s breast when she has fallen asleep, is really where it belongs and wants to be, even though neither of them makes a sound.

O my daughter, how I enjoy talking with you about these things!
How happy we are when we want to love Our Lord!
Let us really love Him, my daughter and let us not start examining in detail what we are doing, for love of Him, as long as we know that we never want to do anything except for love of Him.

For my part, I think we remain in God’s Presence, even while we are asleep because we fall asleep in His sight, as He pleases and according to His will and He puts us down on our bed, like a statue in its niche; when we awake, we find Him still there, close by. He has not moved, nor have we – evidently, we have stayed in His Presence but with our eyes closed in sleep.”

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY FIVE, 28 January

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NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY FIVE, 28 JANUARY

DAY FIVE

Virgin most humble,
in placing Jesus
in holy old Simeon’s arms,
thou didst fill his soul
with heavenly joy.
Give our hearts
into God’s holy keeping
that He may fill them
with His Holy Spirit.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of theNovenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY FOUR, 27 January

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NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY FOUR, 27 January

Day Four

Virgin most holy,
in offering thy divine Son
to His eternal Father,
thou didst gladden all the court of Heaven;
present our poor hearts to God,
that He, by His grace,
may keep them ever free
from mortal sin.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY THREE, 26 January

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NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY THREE, 26 January

Day Three

Virgin most pure,
in observing the precept of the Law,
thou didst care little
that men should account thee unclean —
ask for us, we beg of thee,
grace to keep our hearts forever pure,
however blamable the world may think us.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Click LINK above

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of theNovenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY TWO, 25 January

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY TWO, 25 January

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of theNovenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Day Two

Virgin most obedient,
at thy presentation in the Temple
thou didst will, like other women,
to offer the wonted sacrifice:
obtain for us that we too,
following thy example,
may learn how to offer ourselves
as a living sacrifice to God,
by practicing every virtue.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

Posted in QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 25 January – Of the Way to Resist the Impulses of Sense (Part One)

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Thought for the Day – 25 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

XIII: … Of the Way to Resist the Impulses of Sense
and of the Acts to be Performed by the Will
in order to Acquire Habits of Virtue (Part One)

“Whenever your reasonable will is attacked by the will of sense, on the one hand and the Divine Will on the other, each seeking to obtain the mastery over it, you must make use of various exercises, in order that the Divine Will may always govern you.

  • Firstly: — Whenever you are assailed and buffeted by the impulses of sense, oppose a valiant resistance to them, so that the superior will may not consent.
  • Secondly: — When the assaults have ceased, excite them anew, in order to repress them with greater force and vigour.

Then challenge them again to a third conflict, wherein you may accustom yourself to repulse them with contempt and abhorrence.
These two challenges to battle should be made to every disorderly appetite, except in the case of temptations of the flesh, concerning which we shall speak in their place.

  • Lastly: — Make acts contrary to each evil passion which is to be resisted.
    This will be made clear by the following example in part two.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 25 January – Conversion

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Quote/s of the Day – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, Apostle

“O my brethren, if only we wanted to,
if only we all wanted to perceive
our soul’s paralysis in all its depth!
Then we would see
that it is lying on a stretcher of sins,
deprived of strength.
Christ’s action within us,
would be a source of light
and we would understand
that each day He sees our lack of faith,
harmful as it is, that He draws us
towards healing remedies
and sharply presses our rebellious wills.
“My son” He says, “your sins are forgiven you.”

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

“What are you afraid of, you men of little faith?
That He will not pardon your sins?
But with His own hands He has nailed them to the Cross.
That you are used to soft living
and your tastes are fastidious?
But He knows the clay of which we are made (Gn 2:7).
That a prolonged habit of sinning binds you like a chain?
But the Lord loosens the shackles of prisoners.
Or perhaps that angered by the enormity
and frequency of your sins,
He is slow to extend a helping hand?
But where sin abounded,
grace became superabundant (Rom 5,20).
Are you worried about clothing
and food and other bodily necessities
so that you hesitate to give up your possessions?
But He knows that you need all these things (Mt 6,32).
What more can you wish?
What else is there to hold you back
from the way of salvation? ”

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

“When it is dark,
we do not see how dusty and dirty
our house is.
Only when the place
is flooded with sunlight,
do we realise its awful condition.
So, we need the light of God’s grace
to show us the real state of our soul
and to induce us
to clean up our hearts!”

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

“I see clearly with the interior eye,
that the sweet God loves, with a pure love,
the creature that He has created
and has a HATRED for nothing but SIN,
which is more opposed to Him,
than can be thought or imagined.”

St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

“A person who is conscious of his misery,
can certainly have great confidence in God.
In fact, he cannot have true confidence in Him,
without this consciousness of his misery.
This knowledge and acknowledgement
of our misery, leads us to the presence of God.”

“Let us then depart, let us depart from Egypt,
let us approach Our Lord,
let us make provision of good works;
let the feet of our affections be bare,
let us clothe ourselves with innocence,
let us not be satisfied with crying for mercy,
let us go forth from Egypt, let us delay no longer.
The hour is come to arise from sleep,
since we know that He receives sinners;
the Angels await our repentance,
the Saints pray for it!”

St Francis de Sales 91567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, St PAUL!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 January – ‘… He is there and … He is also here? …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of St Paul , Apostle, Acts 9:1-22, Matthew 19,27-29.

“He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” – Acts 9:4.

REFLECTION – “How can we show that He is there and that He is also here? Let Paul answer for us, who was previously Saul. First of all, the Lord’s own Voice from Heaven shows this: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Had Paul climbed up to Heaven then? Had Paul even thrown a stone at Heaven? It was Christians he was persecuting, them he was tying up, them he was dragging off to be put to death, them he was everywhere hunting out of their hiding places and never sparing, when he found them. To him the Lord said, “Saul, Saul.” Where is He crying out from? Heaven. So He’s up above. “Why are you persecuting Me?” So He’s down below.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 122).

PRAYER – O God, Who taught the whole world by the preaching of Thy blessed Apostle Paul, grant, we beseech Thee that we, who today celebrate his conversion, may draw closer to Thee, by way of hia 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).

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, Our MORNING Offering, St PAUL!

Our Morning Offering – 25 January – Great Convert Teacher of the Faith

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Our Morning Offering – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

Great Convert Teacher of the Faith
Doctor Egregie Paule
Attri. to Elpis (Died c493)
Trans. The Benedictines
of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK

Great Convert Teacher of the Faith
Who never ceased from preaching Christ,
Saint Paul impart to us your zeal,
That we may reach the joys unseen.

All glory to the Trinity,
Forever honour, sov’reignty;
To God Almighty be all praise,
Beginning and the End of all.
Amen.

Elpis, first wife of the celebrated Philosopher Boethius, was the daughter of Festus, Consul at Rome, 472 and aunt of St Placidus, a disciple of St.Benedict.
The above hymn, as well as, “Aurea luce et decore roseo” are attributed to her. Others also bear her name. She died at an early age, at Padua.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 25 January – Saint Bretannion of Tomi (Died c380) Bishop, Confessor

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Saint of the Day – 25 January – Saint Bretannion of Tomi (Died c380) Bishop, Confessor, Defender of the Faith against heresy. Born of Cappadocian origin, he occupied the See of Tomi from 360 until his death in c380 of natural causes. Also known as – Brittany, Vetranio, Vetranius, Bretannione.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Tomi in Scythia, St Bretannion, Bishop, who by his great sanctity and his zeal for the Catholic Faith, shone in the Church under the Arian Emperor Valens,. whom he opposed with fortitude.”

Bretannion lived in the 4th Century and was the Bishop of Tomi, today’s Constance in Romania, on the shores of the Black Sea.

According to the renowned Roman Lawyer and Historian, Sozomen (c400-c450), around the year 368, during the Roman campaign against the Goths in the Danube regions, Emperor Valens stopped in Tomi and spoke to the people gathered in front of the Cathedral to persuade them to betray theTrue Faith proclaimed by the Council of Nicaea.

In fact, it seems that this Emperor had made a personal decision to visit all the Diocese of the Empire, to convince all the faithful to embrace the Arian cause. Bishop Bretannion, however, placed himself at the head of the Clergy and the people of Tomi and all together they moved away from the Church where Emperor Valens was carrying out his heretical propaganda in favour of Arianism.

For this gesture the holy shepherd was exiled but thanks to the protest of the faithful and the fear of sedition in the border territory, the Emperor was induced to revoke the punishment against the Bishop.

Bretannion sent the body of the famous Martyr, Saint Sheba the Goth, who died in Romanian territory, to Saint Basil the Great of Caesarea, accompanying it with a letter from faithful Goths, aimed at illustrating the ‘Passio’ of the Saint, attributed to St Ulfilas “Apostle of the Goths”(c311-c380) but certainly written by Bretanion himself. It was accompanied by a personal letter to St Basil, to which St Basil replied thanking him.

Contradictory reports have been handed down regarding the possible participation in the Council of Constantinople, convened in 381. According to some sources, in fact, Tomi was represented, not by Bretannion, who had probably already died but, by the Bishop Gerontius whom we presume was his successor..

Cardinal Cesare Baronio, in compiling the Martyrologium Romanum, seems to have arbitrarily chosen the date of the commemoration of our Saint Bretannion as 25 January.

Posted in CARMELITES, MYSTICS, SAINT of the DAY, St PAUL!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, Apostle and the Saints for 25 January

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, Apostle – 25 January:
The Church is to have one more Apostle – an Apostle for the Gentiles – and he is to be the fruit of the Martyrdom and prayer of St Stephen.
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/25/feast-of-the-conversion-of-st-paul-apostle-25-january/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/25/feast-of-the-conversion-of-st-paul-25-january/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/25/feast-of-the-conversion-of-st-paul-25-january-2/

St Agape the Martyr
St Agileus of Carthage
St Amarinus of Clermont
St Ananias of Damascus

Blessed Antonio Migliorati OSA (1355-1450) Priest and Friar of the Order of St Augustine, Missionary Preacher, Confessor, Mystc. His body is incorrupt.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/25/saint-of-the-day-24-january-blessed-antonio-migliorati-osa-1355-1450/

St Apollo of Heliopolis
St Artemas of Pozzuoli
St Auxentius of Epirus
St Bretannion of Tomi (Died c380) Bisho, Confessor
St Donatus the Martyr
St Dwynwen (Died c460) Virgin Princess, Nun.
St Eochod of Galloway
St Joel of Pulsano
St Juventinus of Antioch
St Maximinus of Antioch
St Palaemon

St Poppo of Stavelot (977-1048) Abbot, Reformer, Ascetic. He became one of the best known Abbots of Stavelot and was one of the first recorded Flemish pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/25/saint-of-the-day-25-january-saint-poppo-of-stavelot-977-1048/

St Praejectus (625–676) Bishop, Martyr. The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Clermont-Ferrand in the Aquitaine region, in France, Saints Preietto, Bishop and Amarino, man of God, both killed by the notables of the City.”
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/25/saint-of-the-day-25-january-saint-praejectus-625-676/

St Publius of Zeugma
St Racho of Autun
St Sabinus the Martyr

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, NOTES to Followers, The WORD

Come Apart … and Rest Awhile

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Come Apart … and Rest Awhile

[30] And the Apostles coming together unto Jesus,
related to Him all things that they had done and taught.
[31] And He said to them:
Come apart into a deserted place and rest a little.
For there were many coming and going
and they had not so much, as time to eat.
[32] And … they went into a desert place apart.
[Mark 6:30-32]
Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

I will be taking a small rest prior to Lent but will still be here for a few important posts. The Candlemas Novena amongst others.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY ONE, 24 January

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast
of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(The Candlemas Novena)

Today marks the start of the Novena in preparation for the great Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A version of the Candlemas Novena follows below:-

Day One
Bright Mirror of all virtues, holiest Mary,
forty days had scarcely elapsed
from thy delivery when thou,
although the purest of all virgins,
didst will, according to the Law,
to be presented in the Temple to be purified.
Grant that we, like thee,
may keep our hearts unstained by sin,
that so we too, maybe made worthy
to be presented to our God
in the Temple of His Glory.
Amen

Hail Mary …..

Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary – The Litany of Loreto

V. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost.

R. That he should not see death
until he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Let us Pray

Almighty, everlasting God,
we pray Thy majesty
that as Thine Only-begotten Son
was presented in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so Thou wouldst enable us
to present ourselves before Thee,
with clean hearts.
Amen

To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in Church or in their own houses, shall keep any of the Novenas, in preparation for the principal Feasts of Most Holy Mary, Pope Pius VII, at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, 4 August and 24 November 1808 and 11 January 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) —
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, daily.
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas everyday and, who shall afterwards, either on the Feast Day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, prayed to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin, according to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 24 January – Of the Diverse Wills in Man and the Warfare Between Them (Part Two)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 24 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

XII: … Of the Diverse Wills in Man
and the Warfare Between Them (Part Two)

“But let no-one imagine it possible to persevere in the exercise of true Christian virtues, or to serve God as He ought to be served, unless he will, in good earnest, do violence to himself and endure the pain of parting with all pleasant things whatsoever, whether great or small, around which his earthly affections are entwined!

Hence it is that so few attain to perfection; for after having, with much toil, overcome the greater vices, they will not persevere in doing violence to themselves, by struggling against the promptings of self-will and an infinity of lesser desires.
They grow weary of so unremitting a struggle; they suffer these insignificant enemies to prevail against them and so to acquire an absolute mastery over their hearts!

To this class belong men who, if they do not take what belongs to others, cleave with inordinate affection, to that which is lawfully their own.
If they do not obtain honours by unlawful means, yet they do not, as they should, shun them but, on the contrary, cease not to desire and sometimes, even to seek them in various ways.
If they observe fasts of obligation, yet they do not mortify their palate in the matter of superfluous eating, or the indulgence in delicate morsels.
If they live continently, yet they do not renounce many indulgences which much impede union with God and the growth of the spiritual life and which, as they are very dangerous, even to the holiest persons, and most dangerous to those, who fear them least, should be as much as possible avoided by all.
Hence all their good works are performed in a lukewarm spirit and accompanied by much self-seeking, by many lurking impefections, by a certain kind of self-esteem and by a desire to be praised and valued by the world.

Such persons not only fail to make any progress in the way of salvation but rather, go backwards and are, therefore, in danger of relapsing into their former sins because they have no love of true holiness and show little gratitude to their Lord, Who rescued them from the tyranny of the devil.

They are, moreover, too blind and ignorant to see the peril in which they stand and so, falsely persuade themselves, of their own security.
And here we discover a delusion which is the more dangerous because, it is little apprehended.

Many who aspire to the spiritual life, unconsciously love themselves far more than they ought to do and, therefore, practice for the most part, those exercises which suit their taste and neglect others, which touch to the quick those natural inclinations and sensual appetites, against which they ought, in all reason, to direct the full strength of the battle.

Therefore, I exhort and counsel you, to be in love with pain and difficulty — for they will bring with them, that which is the end and object of the whole struggle — victory over self!

The more deeply you shall be in love with the difficulties encountered by beginners in virtue and in war, the surer and the speedier shall be the victory and, if your love be to the difficult and the toilsome struggle, rather than to the victory and the virtue to be attained, you shall, the more speedily obtain, all you desire!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/23/thought-for-the-day-23-january-of-the-diverse-wills-in-man-and-the-warfare-between-them/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 24 January – My disciples?

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 24 January – St Timothy (1st Century) Disciple of St Paul, Bishop and Martyr – 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 14:26-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone comes to Me
without hating his father
and mother, wife and children,
brothers and sisters
and even his own life,
he cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:26

“So likewise, everyone of you,
who does not renounce all
that he possesses,
cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:33

“Pursue justice, godliness,
faith, charity, patience, mildness.
Fight the good fight of the faith,
lay hold on the life eternal,
to which you have been called …”

1 Timothy 6:11-12

“… Anyone of you
who does not renounce
all his possessions,
cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33

“The tradition and the authority
of Holy Scripture, show us three renunciations …
The first is that, by which,
as far as the body is concerned,
we make light of all the wealth
and goods of this world.
By the second,
we reject the fashions and vices
and former affections of soul and flesh.
By the third,
we detach our soul from all present
and visible things and contemplate only
things to come and set our heart
on what is invisible.
We have to do all these three at once,
as the Lord charged Abraham to do,
when he said to him
“Go out from your country
and your kinsfolk
and your father’s house.”(Gn 12:1).”

St John Cassian (c360-435)
Monk, Founder of Monasteries,
Father of the Church

(Conference 3, 6-7)

“Let us trust in Him. Who has
placed this burden upon us.
What we ourselves cannot bear,
let us bear, with the help of Christ.
For He is All-powerful
and He tells us:
‘My yoke is easy and my burden light.’”

St Boniface (c672-754)
Martyr, Confessor, Bishop

“I will go anywhere and do anything,
in order to communicate the love of Jesus
to those who do not know Him,
or have forgotten Him.”

St Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 January – ‘ … In the Kingdom these relationships are transcended …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 24 January – St Timothy (1st Century) Disciple of St Paul, Bishop and Martyr – 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 14:26-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone comes to Me, without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26

REFLECTION – “On another occasion, the Lord says, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children and brothers and sisters and even his own soul, cannot be my disciple.” As a rule, this is more upsetting to the mind of new Christians, who are eager to begin at once, to live in accordance with the precepts of Christ. To those who do not fully grasp its meaning, it would seem contradictory…. He has condescended to call His disciples to the eternal Kingdom. He also called them brothers. In the Kingdom these relationships are transcended because, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female, neither slave nor freeman but Christ, is all things and in all.” The Lord says, “For in the resurrection, they will neither be married nor marry but will be as the Angels of God in Heaven.”

Whoever wishes to prepare himself now, for the life of that Kingdom, must not hate people but those earthly relationships, through which the present life is sustained, the temporary life that begins at birth and ends with death. Whoever does not hate this necessity, does not yet love that other life, in which there will be no condition of birth and death, the condition which makes marriages natural on earth.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father, Doctor of Grace (Sermon on the Mount,15).

PRAYER – Be mindful of our weakness, Almighty God and because the burden of our sins weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of blessed Timothy, Your Martyr and Bishop, sustain us. 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).