Quote/s of the Day – 3 September – St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor
“My hope is in Christ, Who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help. I can do all in Him Who strengthens me. His Power is Infinite and if I lean on Him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is Infinite and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived. His Goodness is Infinite and if my trust is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.”
O Divine Jesus! Lonely in So Many Tabernacles By St Pope Pius X (1835-1914) “Pope of the Blessed Sacrament”
O Divine Jesus! Lonely today in so many Tabernacles, without visitor or worshipper, I offer Thee my lonely heart. May it’s every beat be a prayer of love to Thee. Thou are ever watching under the Sacramental Veils, in Thou love, Thou never sleeps and Thou are never weary of Thy vigils for sinners. O Loving Jesus! O Lonely Jesus! may my heart be a lamp, the light of which shall burn and beam for Thee alone. Watch, Sacramental Sentinel! Watch for the weary world, for the erring soul and for Thy poor lonely child.
O Jesus, my God, I adore Thee, here present in the Sacrament of Thy love. Amen
Indulgences: 100 days each time before the Tabernacle 300 days each time before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed (St Pope Pius X – 3 July 1908) Prayers to the Sacred Heart 15th Ed 1936
One Minute Reflection – 3 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Is not the life a greater thing than the food and the body, than the clothing? ” – Matthew 6:25
REFLECTION – “If spiritual things hold first place in our lives, material needs will cause us no concern, for God, in His goodness, will give them to us in abundance. On the other hand, if we devote ourselves entirely to earthly pursuits and neglect our spiritual life, concern for what this life has to offer will lead us to neglect our souls… I urge you, therefore, let us not overturn the established order. We know that our Master is good, so let us commit everything to Him and not be taken up with the cares of this life… “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things even before you ask him” (Mt 6:32).
Jesus wishes us, then, to be free from every anxiety regarding temporal affairs and to have all possible leisure for the things of the Spirit. He says: “Your part is to seek spiritual blessings and I myself, will provide amply for your material needs. Look at the birds in the sky. They neither sow nor reap nor gather crops into barns and yet, your Father feeds them. ” In other words, “If I take such care of irrational birds, as to supply them with all they need without plowing or sowing, I will take much greater care of you, who are endowed with reason, if only you make up your minds to put spiritual things before temporal ones. If I made these creatures for your sake and the whole of creation too and, if I take such care of them, of what great care will I not deem you worthy – you, for whom I created all of this?” – St John Chrysostom (345-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Baptismal catechesis, no 8, 19-25).
PRAYER – O God Who, for the defence of the Catholic faith and the restoration of all things in Christ, filled St Pius, the Supreme Pontiff, with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fearlessness, mercifully grant that, by following his teachings and examples, we may receive Thy eternal rewards. 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 – 3 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The 14th Sunday after Pentecost
My Lord, I am Unworthy! Prayer before Holy Communion By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church
My Lord, Who art Thou and who am I, that I should dare to take Thee into my body and soul? A thousand years of penance and tears, would not be sufficient to make me worthy to receive, so Royal a Sacrament even once! How much more am I unworthy of it, who fall into sin daily, I, the incorrigible, who approach Thee so often without due preparation! Nevertheless, Thy mercy infinitely surpasses my unworthiness. Therefore, I make bold to receive this Sacrament, trusting in Thy love. Amen
Saint of the Day – 3 September – Blessed Guala de Ronii of Brescia OP ( 1180-1244) Bishop, Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, being one of the earliest disciples of St Dominic, Papal Envoy, Peace-maker. Also known as – Guala of Roniis, Guala Romanoni, Guala of Bergamo, Walter… Wilhelm… Guala was Beatified on 1 October 1868 by Pope Pius IX. Additional Memorials – 2 September (Diocese of Brescia), 20 April as one of the Saints of the Diocese of Brescia and 4 September on some calendars.
Guala de Ronii was born in 1180 in the Bergamo Province and belonged to a famed noble Roman house. His parents oversaw his initial education and his excellent progress caused his parents to entertain great hopes for his future, while neglecting to entertain the thought that perhaps God had a surprise in store for their son and the course of his life.
Guala heard St Dominic preach in 1219 and – like others – was so enchanted by St Dominic’s character that he was one of the first to seek him out for enrollment into his new Order of Preachers. Guala soon received the habit from St Dominic himself and later received Ordination as a Priest. St Dominic soon called the Priest to Bologna in order to appoint him as one of four entrusted with the building of Saint Agnes’ convent for Dominican nuns.
He served as one of the Saint’s first disciples and received the latter’s appointment as the first Prior of the Order in Brescia where Dominic founded a Monastery. Both Theoderic of Apolda, the Hagiographer and Blessed Jordan of Saxony were his Dominican contemporaries.
When Guala learned of St Dominic’s death ,which he received in Brescia, with tremendous grief. Prior to this news, he had fallen asleep with his head against a Church bell tower and saw a Friar ascending a ladder into Heaven where Angels surrounded him – that Friar was Dominic, unbeknownst to him at the time. He was about to depart for Bologna when he learned that Dominic had died at the time of his vision!
The Priorship of Saint Nicholas in Bologna – now titled as Saint Dominic – became vacant and the people there elected him to the position in 1226. But his tenure became difficult with tensions between Bologna and rival Mantua which prompted Pope Honorius III to appoint him as the Papal Envoy to the two Cities, n order that he might secure reconciliation between the warring towns – he managed to negotiate peace terms sto remain in place and to be abided by, for a decade. The new Pope Gregory IX then appointed him as the Papal Legate to Frederick II in order to induce him to keep his often broken promise, to march on a crusade for the relief of the faithful in Jerusalem. On 20 July 1225 he oversaw the successful Treaty of San Germano in Cassino.
Brescia longed for his return and when the Bishop of the Diocese died the people pleaded with intense supplications for the Fr Guala’s appointment to replace the deceased. Guala reluctanly accepted his appointment in 1229 as the Bishop of Brescia from Pope Gregory IX and he received his Episcopal Consecration soon after.
His Episcopate intended as a particular objective to make provision for the temporal care of poor children of the Diocese. But ,the Pontiff also made him an Apostolic Delegate to both Treviso and Paduaas peacemaker, when the two were at odds with each other – despite putting the new Bishop far from his flock – and it was he who conducted successful peace negotiations.
Guala’s contemporaries described him as “a man of great prudence, well acquainted with the world, and of accomplished manners” and said that “he governed the Diocese entrusted to his care with such holiness that, both during his life and after his death, he wrought many wonders through God.”
The years of labour and civil strife wore him down. He resigned his See in 1242 in order to enter complete seclusion and pray without interruption, in preparation for death. Therefore, he retired to the Vallumbrosan Monastery of San Sepolcro d’Astino in Bergamo, his hometown, where he lived as a Hermit – despite his retreat into peaceful solitude – many still flocked to seek his wise counsel. Guala died on 3 September 1244. He was buried in the Benedictine Church,and after many miracles at his tomb, his cause was promoted.
St Aigulphus of Lérins St Ambrose of Sens St Ammon of Heraclea Bl Andrew Dotti St Auxanus St Balin St Basilissa of Nicomedia
St Chariton St Chrodegang of Séez St Frugentius the Martyr Blessed Guala de Ronii of Brescia OP ( 1180-1244) Bishop St Hereswitha Bl Herman of Heidelberg St Macanisius St Mansuetus of Toul St Marinus (Died c 366) St Martiniano of Como St Natalis of Casale
St Regulus of Rheims St Remaclus St Sandila of Cordoba St Vitalian of Capua (Died 699) Bishop
Martyrs of Aquileia – 4 Saints: Four young women, variously sisters and cousins, who were born to the nobility, the daughters of the pagans Valentinianus of Aquileia and Valentius of Aquileia. Each woman converted and made private vows, dedicating themselves to God. They were arrested, tortured and martyred by order of Valentius for becoming a Christian. We know little else but their names – Dorothy, Erasma, Euphemia and Thecla. They were martyred by beheaded in the 1st century in Aquileia, Italy and their bodies were thrown into a nearby river.
Martyrs of Nagasaki – 6 Beati: A group of Priests and Clerics, native and foreign, murdered together in the anti-Christian persecutions in Japan. They were scalded in boiling water and then burned alive on 3 September 1632 in Nishizaka, Nagasaki, Japan and Beatified on 7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX. They are: Anthony Ishida, Bartolomé Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Francisco Terrero de Ortega Pérez, Gabriel Tarazona Rodríguez, Jerome of the Cross de Torres, Vicente Simões de Carvalho
Thought for the Day – 2 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Intimacy with Jesus
“In his memoirs written while in exile, Napoleon says: “Many have desired and endeavoured to be obeyed, revered and honoured by all; only Jesus Christ has demanded this because He is God.”
“As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you,” we read in the Gospel of St John. “Abide in My love” (Jn 15:9).
Jesus, therefore, asks each of us, not only to love Him but, to remain intimately united to Him in love. He has a perfect right to demand this because, as God, He is our Creator and as God-Man, He is our Redeemer, Who out of love for us has given Himself entirely.”
Quote/s of the Day – 2 September – St Stephen, King of Hungary (c975- 1038) Confessor
“Be HUMBLE in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly MODERATE and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be GENTLE, so that you may never oppose justice. Be HONOURABLE, so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be CHASTE, so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.”
“Do not show favour only to relatives and kin, or to the most eminent – whether they are leaders or the wealthy or neighbours or citizens of the same Country. Show favour to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way, you will reach the highest state of happiness.”
St Stephen of Hungary (c975- 1038) (King of Hungary, to his son, St Emeric. Sadly St Emeric died aged 24 but had taken a private vow of Celibacy.)
One Minute Reflection – 2 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Stephen King of Hungary (c975- 1038) Confessor – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Luke 19:12-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I say to you that to everyone who has, shall be given but from him, who does not have, even that which he has, shall be taken away.” – Luke 19;26
REFLECTION – “The Lord was looking to our days when He said, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8) We see that what He foretold has come to pass. There is no faith in the fear of God, in the law of righteousness, in love, in good works …. That which our conscience would fear if it believed, it does not fear because it does not believe at all. If it believed, it would also take heed and if it took heed, it would be saved.
Therefore, beloved brothers, let us arouse ourselves as much as we can and break the slumber of our listlessness. Let us be watchful to observe and to do the Lord’s precepts. Let us be like He Himself, has bidden us to be, saying, “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately, when He comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants, whom the Master finds vigilant on His arrival“.
We ought to be dressed for work, lest, when the day of setting forth comes, it should find us burdened and entangled. Let our light shine, in good works and glow, in such a way, as to lead us from the night of this world, to the daylight of eternal brightness. Let us always wait with solicitude and caution for the sudden coming of the Lord, so that when he knocks, our faith may be on the watch and receive from the Lord, the reward of our vigilance. If these commands be observed, if these warnings and precepts be kept, we will not be overtaken in slumber, by the deceit of the devil. But we shall reign with Christ in His Kingdom, as servants on the watch.” – St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258) Bishop of Carthage and Martyr, Father of the Church (Treatise on the unity of the Church, 26-27).
PRAYER – We beseech Thee, Almighty God, that Thy Church be worthy to have as her glorious defender in Heaven, the blessed Stephen, Thy Confessor, whom she had as her champion while he reigned on earth. 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 – 2 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and the First Saturday of the Month
O Blessed Lady, Mediatrix and Advocate By St Bernard (1090-1153) Father and Doctor of Light
Our Mediatrix and Advocate O blessed Lady, you found grace, brought forth the Life, and became the Mother of Salvation. May you obtain the grace for us to go to the Son. By your mediation, may we be received by the One who through you, gave Himself to us. May your integrity compensate with Him for the fault of our corruption and may your humility, which is pleasing to God, implore pardon for our vanity. May your great charity cover the multitude of our sins and may your glorious fecundity confer on us, a fecundity of merits. Dear Lady, our Mediatrix and Advocate, reconcile us to your Son, recommend us to Him and present us to your Son. By the grace you found, by the privilege you merited, by the Mercy you brought forth, obtain for us the favour we ask of you, O blessed Lady. Amen
Saint of the Day – 2 September – St Justus of Lyons (Died c390) the 13th Bishop of Lyons, Confessor, Monk, Hermit, a man of learning, of meek, gentle and kind nature. Born in Tournon-sur-Rhône, Gaul (in modern France) and died in 390 in the Egyptian desert of natural causes. Also known as – Just, Justo, Giusto. The Latin name Justus means “one who helps.”
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Lyons in France, St Justus, Bishop and Confessor, who was endowed with extraordinary sanctity and, a prophetic spirit, He resigned his Bishopric and retired into a desert of Egypt with his Lector, Viator, When he had, for some years, led an almost angelic life and the end of his meritorious labours had come, he went to our Lord to receive the crown of justice, on the 14th day of October, His holy body together with the Relics of his blessed Lector Viator, was afterwards taken to Lyons on this day, 2 September, becoming the remembrance of his birthday into Heaven.”
Justus was born in the first half of the 4th Century in Tournon-sur-Rhône and came from an aristocratic family. He followed the religious teaching of Saint Paschasius, the Archbishop of Vienne at the time, and became a Deacon of the Church of Vienne. A contemporary biographer describes him as being a meek and merciful man.
Around 350, Justus was Consecrated as the Bishop of Lyons. As the Bishop of the Capital City of Gaul, he was among the participants of the Council of Valencia in 374, regarding religious discipline of the Clergy and the faithful.
In 381, He assisted at the Council of Aquileia, organised by St Ambrose of Milan. A general Council had been requested by Arian bishops Palladius and Secundianus, supported by the Empress Justina, to review the Church’s position on Arianism. St Ambrose refused to hold a General Council, agreeing only to a Provincial Council but the Emperor Gratian allowed other Bishops to attend. The Bishops of Gaul sent delegates including Justus, who was one of 32 Bishops at the Council which rejected Arianism and condemned Palladius and Secundianus. (They must have regretted have requested the Council!)
At that time, Justus maintained a correspondence with St Ambrose of which there remain only two letters from St Ambrose discussing sections of Scripture. The two letters suggest that Justus was a man respected for his learning.
Some time after the Council of Aquileia, an incident took place where an insane individual in a violent fit, had attacked and killed several people in the streets of the City with a sword. Although eventually restrained, he managed to escape and take refuge in the Church, at that time located on the side of the present Church of St Nizier. Despite threats, the Bishop maintained the right of sanctuary. At length a City Magistrate arrived and persuaded Bishop Justus to hand the accused over to him, giving his word that the matter would be handled according to law. Relying on the Magistrate’s assurances, Justus delivered the man over; but scarcely had the man left the Church when the mob overpowered the guard and seizing the prisoner, put him to death.
The interior of the Church of St Justus in Lyons
The Bishop came to believe that his failure to adequately protect the murderer had made him unworthy to continue to lead the Christian community and he resolved to devote the remainder of his life to doing penance. Disillusioned, Justus resigned his See and retired to his house at Tournon. His friends could neither convince him that he was not responsible for the unfortunate man’s death, nor to reconsider his decision of being unworthy to be Bishop. One night, he secretly left to take up the ascetical life of a Hermit. He travelled to Arles and then on to Marseilles where he planned to embark for Alexandria. The Cathedral Lector, Viator suspected the Bishop’s intentions and decided to follow his master. He caught up with Justus at Marseilles and together they boarded ship for Egypt.
Once there, they joined the community of Monks in the desert of Scetes, about 40 or 50 miles south of Alexandria, beyond the mountains of Nitria, in the Libyan Desert. At that time the leader or Abbot of this community was St Macarius of Egypt († 390), a disciple of St Anthony († 356). St Macarius had a reputation for great holiness and a fierce asceticism. Most of the Monks lived in cells, either dug in the ground or built of stones and each out of sight of others. They came together only on Sundays to celebrate the liturgy. They supported themselves by manual labour and ate only the poorest of foods. Fasting, prayer, silence and the keeping of night vigils, characterised their lives.
You can vaguely see this above in the interior of the St Justus Church in Lyons
The story is told then of a pilgrim in North Africa who some years later recognised Justus and reported this on his return to Lyons. The City folk being eager to regain their Bishop, sent a delegation led by Antiochus, a Priest of Lyons, to find him and bring him back to his Diocese. Antiochus found but could not convince the Hermit Bishop to return, so Antiochus returned to Gaul and was later himself appointed Bishop of Lyons.
Justus died at a Monastery of Scetes in c390. Upon his death, Antiochus, now himself Bishop of Lyons, made arrangements to repatriate the body of the Bishop and that of his companion Viator, who died shortly after and interred them in the Basilica of the Maccabees which Antiochus renamed the Saint-Just Basilica.
At the end of the 4th Century, a Vita Sancti Justi, Lugdunensis Episcopi, retracing in a hagiographic style the life of Justus, was written by a Priest of Lyons.
The Lyons Church celebrates a Mass for Saint Justus one to four times a year – on the date of his Ordination on 14 July (also Bastille Day); the translation of his Relics to Lyons on 4 August; his death on 2 September and his visit to Egypt on 14 October. The Feast of the translation of his Relics is still celebrated in the Diocese of Lyons, in addition to the regular September Feast.
St Justus Church in Lyons
In Lyons, the Basilica of Saint Justus, now destroyed, was replaced by the Church of Saint-Just. Around the Basilica developed a village of the same name which, in the 19th Century, became a suburb of Lyons.
The Chapel of the School of Tournon, St Justus’ birth Town, also bears his name.
St Prospero of Tarragona St Theodota of Bithynia St Valentine of Strasbourg St William of Roeskilde
Marytrs of Nicomedia – 3 Saints: Three Christians who were Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. No details about them but their names have survived – Concordius, Theodore and Zenone. They were martyrd in Nicomedia, Bithynia (in modern Turkey).
The Holy Martyrs of September (Died 1792) – 191 beati: Also known as – Martyrs of Paris, Martyrs of Carmes. They were massacred by a mobs on 2 September and 3 September 1792 and Beatified on 17 October 1926 by Pope Pius XI. THEIR LIVES AND DEATHS: https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/02/saint-s-of-the-day-2-september-
Martyrs of 2 September – 10 Saints: A group of ten Martyrs; their names are on old Martyrologies but we have lost all record of their lives and deaths. They were Canonised: Antoninus, Diomedes, Eutychian, Hesychius, Julian, Leonides, Menalippus, Pantagapes, Philadelphus, Philip.
Holy Bishops of Rennes: Honours all the Bishops of the Diocese of Rennes, France who have been recognised as Saints and Beati. They include Saint Maximinus of Rennes Saint Modéran of Rennes Saint Rambert of Rennes Saint Riotisme of Rennes Saint Servius of Rennes Saint Synchronius of Rennes
Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross
Bid me bear, O Mother Blest, On my heart, the wounds imprest, Suffered by the Crucified!
An Indulgence of 50 days each time. Plenary Indulgence once a month under the usual conditions.
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1, The prophecy of Simeon 2. The Flight to Egypt 3. Loss of Child Jesus for 3 days 4. Meeting Jesus carrying His Cross 5. The Crucifixion of Jesus 6. The Pieta – receiving Jesus’ Body The Burial of Jesus
What Can I Say? By St Anselm (1033-1109) Magnificent Doctor Marian Doctor
My most merciful Lady, what can I say about the fountains that flowed from your most pure eyes when you saw your only Son before you, bound, beaten and suffering? What do I know of the flood that drenched your matchless face, when you beheld your Son, your Lord and your God, stretched on the Cross without guilt, when the flesh of your flesh was cruelly butchered by wicked men? How can I judge, what sobs, troubled your most pure breast, when you heard, “Woman, behold your son,” and the disciple, “Behold, your Mother,” when you received as a son the disciple in place of the Master, the servant for the Lord? Amen
From “The Prayers and Meditations of Saint Anselm with the Proslogion,” Benedicta Ward, trans,1973, Penguin classics, Penguin Group (UK).
Thought for the Day – 1 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Problem of Evil
“According to St Augustine, great good can come from the evil which God permits. In the first place, God displays His infinite goodness and mercy. Even though He permits us to offend Him out of respect for our human liberty. He is always ready to forgive us, even as He forgave the penitent thief.
In the second place, by permitting evil, God gives the good, an opportunity of practising virtue, especially the virtue of patience. If there were no persecutors, there would be no Martyrs and the Church would be deprived of the glory which makes her most like her Founder, Jesus Christ.
Finally, each of us has a particular duty to fulfil in resisting the onslaught of evil. As followers and soldiers of Christ, we cannot remain passive. The invasion of the forces of darkness and evil, demands a counter-attack by the forces of light and good, in defence of the Faith and of the Church. As Christians, we are the sons of Martyrs. We must not refuse, therefore, to make our lives a continuous martyrdom for the triumph of goodness in ourselves and in others. The faithful exercise of virtue and of the apostolate is often a form of martyrdom.”
Quote/s of the Day – 1 September – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40 – cripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning …”
Luke 12:35
“For patience is necessary for you that, doing the Will of God, you may receive the promise. For yet a little and a very little while and He that is to come, will come and will not delay.”
Hebrews 10:36-37
“Let us listen to the holy Voice of God which summons us from on high, from the holy mountain top. There, we must hasten – I make bold to say – like Jesus, Who is our leader and has gone before us into Heaven. There, with Him, may the eyes of our mind shine with His light and the features of our soul be made new; may we be transfigured with Him and moulded to His image, ever becoming divine, being transformed in an ever greater degree of glory.”
St Anastasius Sinaita (Died 6th Century) Priest and Abbot of St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai
One Minute Reflection – 1 September – St Giles (c650 – c710) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed are those servants whom the Master, on His return, shall find watching.” – Luke 12:37
REFLECTION – “We must sleep in such a way as to be easily awakened. For Scripture says, “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when He comes and knocks.” (Lk 12:35-36). For a sleeping man is of no more use than a dead man. Therefore, we ought often to get up at night and bless God!
Blessed are those who watch for Him and so, make themselves like the Angels, whom we call “Watchers.” A man asleep is worth nothing, no more than if he were dead. But whoever has the light keeps watch and “darkness does not overcome him” (Jn 1:5) neither does sleep. Whoever has been illumined is, therefore, wakened to God and such a person is alive, “for what came to be in him was life.” (Jn 1:4) “Happy the man,” says Wisdom,“who obeys me and happy those who keep my ways, happy the man watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts” (Pr 8:34).
Therefore, “let us not sleep as the rest do but let us stay alert and sober” as Scripture says. “For those who sleep, go to sleep at night and those who are drunk, get drunk at night,” that is, in the darkness of ignorance. “But since we are of the day, let us be sober.” (1Th 5:6-8) “For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness.” (1Th 5:5).” – St Clement of Alexandria (c150- c215) Father of the Church, Theologian and Philosopher, Professor who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria (The Instructor II:9).
PRAYER – May the pleading of blessed Giles Abbo,t make us acceptable unto Thee O Lord, we pray that what we may not have through any merits of our own, we may gain by means of his patronage. 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 – 1 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”
To Our Lady of Sorrows By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church
O most holy Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by the overwhelming grief thou experienced when thou witnessed the Martyrdom, the Crucifixion and the Death, of Thy Divine Son, look upon me, with eyes of compassion and awaken in my heart, a tender commiseration for those sufferings and a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem and that, henceforward, all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object, the honour, glory and love of our divine Lord Jesus, and to thee, the Holy and Immaculate Mother of God. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 1 Septembert – Saint Nivard of Rheims (Died 673) Bishop Born in the early 7th Century near Rheims, Gaul (modern France) and died on 1 September 673 at the Abbey of San Pietro di Hautvillers of natural causes and was buried there. He served the Diocese for over 20 years becoming a Co-Founder and/or builder of many Monasteries and Churches, including the one where he retired and was buried at Hautvillers. Also known as – Nivardo, Nivo.
Nivard was born of a rich family belonging to the high Merovingian nobility, in the region of Rheims, He was raised at the Court and was the brother-in-law of King Childeric II of Austria. He entered the Clergy as a fully mature adult.
Having successively received all the Orders – something uncommon at that time – in 657 he succeeded Landone as the Bishop of Rheims. This City was then the Capital of King Clovis II. Remaining extraneous to political controversies, Nivard and his Diocese did not have to suffer from changes in dynasties but rather, always benefited from the favour of the powerful.
For his part, Nivard always showed great concern for the Monks. He co-operated with St Bercarius at the foundation of the Monastery of Hautvilliers, whose rule was a fusion of that of St Benedict and that of St Columba. The choice of location gave rise to many difficulties but Nivard managed, not only to build the Abbey but to reconcile those who opposed it. Some of these even entered the Monastery whose direction had been entrusted to St Bercarius.
The
Nivard’s benevolence and financial help also extended to other famous Monasteries (Corbie, Soissons, Fontenelle, today Saint-Wandrille). He was a patron of the Churches of Rheims, especially St Maria and St Remigius which he endowed extensively.
St Nivard chosing the location of the Monastery of Hautvillers
Having obtained a privilege of immunity for Hautvilliers and full jurisdiction over the Abbey for the Bishop of Rheims, Nivard chose it as his preferred residence. There, he died on 1 September 673.
The Abbey of Hautvillers in the 9th Century became a famous school of miniatures and in the 18th Century, one of its Monks, Pérignone, perfected the “art and way of treating wines” thus inventing Champagne!
St Abigail the Matriarch St Aegidius St Agia St Anea St Arcanus St Arealdo of Brescia Bl Colomba of Mount Brancastello St Constantius the Bishop St Donatus of Sentianum St Felix of Sentianum
St Lythan St Nivard of Rheims (Died 673) Bishop St Priscus St Regulus St Sixtus of Rheims St Terentian St Verena St Victorious St Vincent of Xaintes
Exiles of Campania
Twelve Holy Brothers: Martyrs of the South – A group of Martyrs who died c303 at various places in southern Italy. In 760 their relics were brought together and enshrined in Benevento, Italy as a group. Saint Arontius of Potenza, Saint Donatus of Sentianum, Saint Felix of Sentianum, Saint Felix of Venosa, Saint Fortunatus of Potenza, Saint Honoratus of Potenza, Saint Januarius of Venosa, Saint Repositus of Velleianum, Saint Sabinian of Potenza, Saint Sator of Velleianum, Saint Septiminus of Venosa, Saint Vitalis of Velleianum. One tradition describes Saint Boniface of Hadrumetum and Saint Thecla of Hadrumetum as their parents.
Thought for the Day – 31 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Prayer and Our Lady
“O Mary, my Mother, obtain for me that spirit of prayer which will keep me always close to God. I know that sin can never conquer me if I remain united to God. I know if my heart is filled with the desire of Heavenly gifts, there will be no room in it for useless or sinful affections. I wish to follow your example and live a life of prayer and recollection. But, I am very weak and unstable. Please obtain for me the gift of constant and persevering prayer and grant that I may never lose it. Amen.”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci
On this last day of the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us call upon the Mother of Our Lord and our Mother, in all our great needs.
Quote/s of the Day – 31 August – St Raymond Nonnatus (1204-1240) Priest, Confessor
Prayer for the Intercession of St Raymond Nonnatus (Can also be used as a Novena Prayer).
Glorious St Raymond, filled with compassion for those who invoke thee and with love, for those who suffer, heavily leaden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg of thee to take the present affair which I recommend to thee, under thy special protection. ……………………. (Your request here) Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the Throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God, face-to-Face and with thee and Our Lady and the Saints, praising and blessing for to all eternity. Amen.
Good St Raymond, pray for me and obtain my request – 3 Times
One Minute Reflection – 31 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Raymond Nonnatus 1204-1240) Priest, Confessor, Cardinal, Friar of the Mercedarian Order. – Ecclesiasticus Sir 31:8-1, Luke 12:35-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“You also must be ready, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” – Luke 12:40
REFLECTION – “To prevent His disciples from questioning Him about the time of His coming, Christ said: “Of that hour no-one knows, neither the Angels nor the Son” (Mt 24:36). It is not for you to know the days or the hour” (Acts 1,7). He hid the time from us so that we would be on the watch and so that each of us might think that the coming will happen in his own lifetime. If He had revealed when He was to come again, His coming would have been made pointless and the peoples and ages, in which it will take place, would no longer yearn for it. He said that He will come again, indeed but He did not say exactly when. Hence, all generations and ages live in eager expectation of Him.
The Lord pointed out the signs of His coming but we have no knowledge of when they will be completed. In many varied ways, they have happened and passed away and are still happening. His last coming is, in fact, like His first – the just and the prophets longed for Him, thinking that He was to appear in their day.
So, today, each of the faithful wants to receive Him in his own lifetime and even more so, in that Jesus did not reveal the day of His coming. His reason for this was so that no-one might think that the Christ is subject to a law of time or a given hour, He Who is lord over numbers and times.” – St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on the Diatessaron 18:15).
PRAYER – O God, Who made blessed Raymund, Thy Confessor, famous for delivering Thy faithful from the captivity of the infidels, grant us, by his intercession that, having been released from the bonds of our sins, we may with free minds, do what is pleasing to Thee. 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 – 31 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” On this the last day of this Marian Month, let us consecrate ourselves to her. Immaculate Heart and attempt, to constantly attone, for the endless acts of violence and blasphemy, committed against Jesus, our Lord and our God and His blessed Mother.
Act of Consecration and Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth and tender Mother of men, in accordance with thy ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to thee, myself, my brethren, my country and the whole human race. Reign over us and teach us how to make the Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in us and around us, as It has reigned and triumphed in thee. We wish to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and thee. We wish to call down upon our country and the whole world, the peace of God in justice and charity. We promise to imitate thy virtues, by the practice of a Christian life without regard to human respect. We resolve to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of every month and to offer thee five decades of the Rosary on this day, together with our sacrifices in the spirit of reparation and penance. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 31 August – St Raymond Nonnatus (1204-1240) Priest, Confessor, Cardinal, Friar of the Mercedarian Order. Patronages – against gossip, of silence, against fever, of babies, infants, childbirth, children, pregnant women, falsely accused people, midwives, obstetricians, Baltoa, Dominican Republic, San Ramon, Costa Rica. Raymond was delivered by Caesarean operation when his mother died during childbirth – hence the name: non natus = not born.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus, Confessor By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)
Catalonia, Spain, was the native country of St Raymund who, to the astonishment of the Physicians, was born after his mother’s death! As soon as he was old enough to comprehend how early he had become an orphan, he chose the Queen of Heaven as his mother and, to his last day, called her by no other name. When he had studied for some time with great success, his father, fearing the youth would enter a Religious Order, sent him into the too, opportunities to serve God. He became very fond of solitude and, therefore, chose for his occupation, the care of the sheep, in order to gain more time for prayer and meditation.
At the foot of the mountain to which he generally led his flock, was a small deserted hermitage, with a Chapel, in which an extremely lovely picture of the Blessed Virgin was kept, which was a source of great joy to him. There, he spent several hours daily, in devout exercises. Other shepherds, who observed this and to whom the piety of Raymund was a reproach of their own negligence, reported to his father that he was doing nothing but praying and, thereby neglected his flock. The father came to convince himself of the fact but, although he found his son praying in the Chapel, he saw that the flock was, meanwhile attended to by a youth of uncommon beauty of form and features. Asking his son who this young shepherd was and why he had engaged him, Raymund, to whom it was unknown that Providence had worked a miracle on his behalf, fell on his knees before his father and begging forgiveness, earnestly promised not to commit the fault again.
The Divine Mother, of Whom he begged the grace of knowing his vocation, appeared to him, saying that she desired him to take the habit of the newly established Order for the Redemption of Captives. He did so,and was sent to Algiers where he found a great many Christians in slavery and, as the money he had brought for their ransom was not sufficient, he offered himself as a hostage to redeem the others. He was induced to this by the danger in which the prisoners were of losing their faith and with it eternal life. This great and heroic charity gave him occasion to suffer much for the sake of Christ. At first, he was treated very harshly by his masters but when they began to fear that he would die before the ransom was paid, they allowed him more liberty which the holy man used, only for the salvation of the captive Christians. He strengthened them in their faith and, at the same time, endeavoured to convert the infidels.
Accused of this before the Judge, he was condemned to be impaled alive and nothing but the hope of a large ransom prevented the execution of this barbarous sentence and caused it to be changed into a cruel bastinado (a form of torture which involves the caning of the soles of the feet). Raymund, who desired nothing more fervently than to die for Christ’s sake, was not intimidated by what he had undergone but wherever an opportunity offered itself, he explained to the infidels, the word of God. The Judge, informed of it, ordered him to be whipped through all the streets of the city and then to be brought to the marketplace, where the executioner, with a red hot iron, pierced his lips, through which a small chain was drawn and closed with a padlock, in order that the holy man might no more use his tongue to instruct others. Every three days the lock was opened and he received just enough food to keep him from starvation. Besides this, he was loaded with chains and cast into a dungeon, where he lay for eight months, until his ransom arrived. Although it was the desire of the Saint to remain among the infidels, as he would there have an opportunity to gain the Crown of Martyrdom, obedience recalled him to his Monastery.
When the Pope was informed of all that Raymund had suffered during his captivity, he appointed him as a Cardinal but the humble Saint returned to his Convent and lived like all the other brothers of the Order, without making the least change in his dress, food, or dwelling, nor accepting any honour due to him as so high a dignitary of the Church.
Pope Gregory IX, desired to have so holy a man near him and called him to Rome. The Saint obeyed and set out on his journey. He had,, however, scarcely reached Cardona, six miles from Barcelona, when he was seized with a malignant fever which soon became fatal. He desired most fervently to receive the holy Sacraments but, as the Priest called to administer them to him, delayed to come, God sent an Angel, who brought him the Divine food. After receiving it, he returned thanks to God for all the graces he had received from Him during his life and peacefully gave up his soul, in the 37th year of his age.
After his death, the inhabitants of Cardona, the Clergy of Barcelona and the religious of his Order, contended as to where the holy body should be buried. Each party thought they had the greatest claim to possess his tomb. At last they resolved to leave the decision to Providence. They placed the coffin, in which the holy body reposed, upon a blind mule, determined that the treasure should be deposited in the place to which this animal should carry it. The mule, accompanied by a large concourse of people, went on until it had reached the hermitage and Chapel where the holy Cardinal, as a shepherd boy, had spent so many hours in prayer and had received so many graces from God. There the Saint was buried and St Peter Nolasco, Founder of the Order in the course of time, founded there a Convent, with a Church in which the holy remains are still preserved and greatly honoUred by the people of Catalonia.
St Raymond Nonnatus O.deM. (1204-1240) Religious Priest, Confessor, Cardinal, Friar of the Mercedarian Order. Beatified on 5 November 1625 by Pope Urban VIII and Canonised in 1657 by Pope Alexander VII. Raymond was delivered by Caesarean operation when his mother died during childbirth – hence the name: non natus = not born. Biography here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/31/saint-of-the-day-31-august-st-raymond-nonnatus-o-dem/
St Ammi of Caesarea St Aristides the Philosopher St Barbolenus of Bobbio St Bonajuncia OSM Confessor St Caesidius St Cuthburga of Wimborne St Cwenburgh of Wimborne
Thought for the Day – 30 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Duties of Our State
“Let us be content, or at least, resigned in the position in which Providence has placed us. Let us pay special attention to those things which we are obliged to do. Anything which is not necessary should be left until later, even if it is more pleasant or seems more worthwhile in itself. Let us never become involved in business which is incompatible with our state or dangerous to our eternal welfare. Let us not make light of minor offences against the duties of our state. Smaller transgressions gradually become greater. Above all, let us try to sanctify our calling. It is one thing to work conscientiously, another to work in a spirit of holiness., Even pagans can do their duty earnestly. Doing our duty is only a help to our eternal salvation if it is done with God’s grace for the purpose of serving Him, for His love and glory. This should be our manner of behaviour. If it is, we can claim to have sanctified our state in life and to have made our work holy.”
Quote/s of the Day – 30 August – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin
“Apart from the cross there is no other ‘ladder’ by which we might get to Heaven.”
“Without the struggle of afflictions, it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.”
“If only we would learn how great it is to possess divine grace and how many riches it has within itself, how many joys and delights. We would devote all our concern, to winning for ourselves pains and afflictions, in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace.”
One Minute Reflection – 30 August – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin – 2 Cor inthians10:17-18; 11:1-2, Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“ … The Bridegroom came and they, who were ready, went in with Him … ” – Matthew 25:10
REFLECTION – “In this world, which is to say, in the Church, wholly following Christ, He says to all of us: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself.” This command is not being directed to virgins but not married women, to widows but not wives, to Monks but not husbands, to Priests but not laity. It is the whole Church, the whole Body of Christ with all its members, differentiated and divided according to their proper functions that is, to follow Christ. May she wholly follow Him, she who is one alone, the dove, the bride (Sg 6:9); may she follow Him, she who has been redeemed and endowed with the Blood of her Bridegroom. Virginal purity has its place here; the continence of widows has its place here; wedded chastity has its place here…
These members who have their place here should follow Christ, each according to their category, each according to their status, each after its fashion. Let them deny themselves, that is to say, let them not rely on themselves. Let them carry their cross that is to say, bear, for Christ’s sake in the world, all that the world inflicts on them. May they love Him, He, the Only One, Who never deceives or is deceived, the Only One ,Who is not mistaken. May they love Him because, what He promises is true. Yet because, He does not give it to us now, our faith falters. Keep going, persevere, bear and accept this delay and you have carried His Cross!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 96:9)
PRAYER – Almighty God, Giver of all good things, Who willed that blessed Rose, imbued in early life with the dew of heavenly grace, should bloom among the Indians with the beauty of virginity and patience, grant unto us, Thy servants that, following the fragrance of her sweetness, we may be found worthy to become a sweet savour of Christ. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 30 August – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin
Virginis Proles Anonymous Latin, 8th Century Trans. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814-1878)
O Thou Thy Mother’s Maker, hail! Hail, Virgin-born! to Thee; Hear us, who on this day record Thy Virgin’s memory.
Oh, through her prayers our sins forgive, All good and gracious King ! So purified in heart may we Thy praise eternal sing.
All glory to the Father be; Praise to His only Son; With Thee, who dost from both proceed. While endless ages run.
This Hymn is used for Matins in the Common of Virgins in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Breviary. Verses 1, 4 and 5 above, are used for a Virgin who is not a Martyr.
Saint/s of the Day – 30 August – Saints Felix Priest and Martyr and Saint Adauctus (Died c303) – both dying in c303 by beheading in Rome. Patronages – of Montecalvo Irpino, Italy and Felice del Benaco, Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome on the Ostian Way the Martyrdom of the blessed Priest, Felix, under the Emperor Diocletian and Maximian. After being racked, he was sentenced to death and as they led him to execution, he met a man who spontaneously declared himself a Christian and was, forthwith, beheaded with the holy Felix. The Christians, not knowing his name, called him Adauctus – the Latin word meaning “added to” because he was added to St Felix and shared his Crown.”
The Priest Felix, meaning the “happy one,” was apprehended in Rome at the beginning of the Diocletian persecution and underwent cruel tortures with admirable constancy.
Eventually he was condemned to beheading. En route to his place of execution, his coming martyrdom so excited a stranger that, the bystander was unable to contain himself. He cried out, “I too follow and believe the same commandments which this man professes; I too confess the same Jesus Christ and, it is my desire to also lay down my life in this cause.” The magistrates seized him when they heard this and the two were decapitated side by side.
Both were reverently buried in the Cemetery of Commodilla on the Ostian Way. Later Pope Saint Damasus had their Tomb restored and added the inscription below. Pope Saint Siricius added another Epitaph.
These Martyrs are commemorated in the Sacramentary of Saint Gregory the Great and many ancient calendars, including the Deposito Martyrum (354). Their Church in Rome, built over their graves, in the Catacomb of Commodilla, near the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and restored by Pope Leo III, was discovered about three hundred years ago and again unearthed in 1905
“Felix, truly and rightly named, for you were happy to have confessed Christ and looked for the Kingdom of Heaven, despising the prince of this world and departing with your faith unimpaired. Adauctus, too, another conqueror, reveals, my brothers, the most precious faith which hastened his journey to Heaven.” – The Inscription on the Tomb of Saints Felix and Adauctus.
The Artist, Carlo Innocenzo Carlone (1686–1775) painted The Glorification of Saints Felix and Adauctus (1759–1761), seen above. It was commissioned for the Cupola of the Church of San Felice del Benaco on Lake Garda (see the Church below) of which Town our Saints are the Patrons.
St Adauctus AND St Felix of Rome (Died c303) St Agilus St Arsenius the Hermit St Boniface of Hadrumetum St Bononius of Lucedio Bl Bronislava of Poland Bl Edward Shelley Bl Ero di Armenteira Bl Eustáquio van Lieshout St Fantinus of San Mercurius
St Pelagius the Hermit St Peter of Trevi Bl Richard Flower Bl Richard Leigh Bl Richard Martin St Rumon of Tavistock St Sylvanus the Hermit St Thecla of Hadrumetum St Theodosius of Oria
Martyrs of Colonia Suffetulana – 60 Saints: A group of 60 Christians Martyred for destroying a statue of Hermes. They were Martyred in Colonia Suffetulana, Africa.
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