Thought for the Day – 13 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Accepting the Will of God
“Let us pray fervently to God for spiritual peace. Let us surrender ourselves to His Will and accept everything from His Hands, remembering that everything, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, temptation and spiritual consolation, should form a mystical ladder which will gradually bring us nearer to Heaven and finally unite us to God for evermore. Everything passes but God is unchangeable.
Sufferings have to end but the merits we gain remain, if we have offered our afflictions to God. Let us surrender ourselves completely into the hands of God, Who in His goodness, gives us some happiness on earth for our consolation and causes us to suffer, so that we may be purified and made holy.”
Quote/s of the Day – 13 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – 1 Petet 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16
“Hide me then in the day of evil, O Lord, in the secret place of Thy tabernacle, in the hidden recesses of Thy Face, “far from the strife of tongues” (Ps 26:5; 30:21), for Thy yoke is easy and the burden Thou hast laid on me is light (Mt 11:30). And when Thou show me the difference between Thy service and the service of the world, gently and tenderly Thou asks me if it is not better to serve Thee, the living God, than to serve strange gods (Cf 2 Chron 12:8). And I, for my part, adore the hand that lays the load, I kiss the yoke and I embrace the burden and it is very sweet to me to sweat beneath its weight. For masters other than Thee, have long possessed me… I acknowledge Thy yoke and Thy light burden which lifts me up and does not crush me down. …”
William of St Thierry O.Cist (c1075 – c1148)
“It is an old custom with the servants of God, always to have some little prayers ready and to be darting them up to Heaven frequently during the day, lifting their minds to God out of the filth of this world. He who adopts this plan, will get great fruit, with little pains.”
St Philip Neri (1515-1595)
“Amongst all loves, God’s is so to be preferred that we must always stand prepared in mind, to forsake them all for that alone!”
(Treatise on the Love of God, Book 10, Chapter 7)
“Let us always belong to God, unreservedly and without interruption. May He ever live and reign in our hearts.”
(Letter to Madame de Chantal)
“He who most loves, will be most loved.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 13 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Anacletus (c25-c89) 3rd Bishop of Rome and Martyr – 1 Petet 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and, whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.” … Matthew 16:18-19
REFLECTION – “Peter was to receive on deposit, the keys of the Church, or rather the keys of Heaven and, he should see himself entrusted with the numerous people. What did the Lord actually say to him? “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven” (Mt 16:19). For Peter had a somewhat abrupt character; if he had been without sin what sort of forgiveness would the disciples have received from him? This is why Divine Grace allowed him to fall into a certain fault, in order that his own trial should make him benevolent towards others. Do you see how God can let someone fall into sin; this Peter, the leader of the Apostles, the unshakable foundation, indestructible rock, first in the Church, impregnable harbour, unshakable tower — this same Peter, who had said to Christ: “Even though I should have to die with Thee, I will not deny Thee” (Mt 26:35), Peter who, by a divine revelation, had confessed the truth: “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16). … But as I said, God arranged it in this way and allowed Peter to sin because He had it in mind, to confer numerous people upon him and He feared, that his roughness, joined to his impeccability, might make him unsympathetic towards his brothers. He gave way to sin so that, remembering his own failure and the kindness of the Lord, he might testify to others, a grace of philanthropy in accord with the divine design conceived by God. The fall had been permitted to the one who was going to see himself entrusted with the Church, the Pillar of the Church, the Harbour of the Faith; the fall had been permitted to Peter, the Doctor of the Universe, in order that, the forgiveness received, might remain the foundation of love for others.” – (Attr) St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (On the Apostle Peter and the Prophet Elijah).
PRAYER – Look forgivingly on thy flock, Eternal Shepherd, and keep it in thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Anacletus thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 13 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus”
By the Merit of the Precious Blood of Jesus By Pope Pius VII (1742-1823) Papacy from 1800 to 1823 Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father
Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my wants, spiritual and temporal, in aid of the Holy Souls in Purgatory and chiefly for those who most loved this Precious Blood, the price of our redemption and who were most devout to the sorrows and pains of most Holy Mary, our dear Mother.
Glory be to the Blood of Jesus, now and forever and throughout all ages. Amen.
Indulgence of 300 days, each time this prayed is offered 22 September 1817 with a Plenary Indulgence, once a month, under the usual conditions.
Note: On 15 August 1811 – the Feast of the Assumption – it is recorded that the Pope. Pius VII, celebrated Mass and was said to have entered a trance and began to levitate in a manner which drew him to the aAtar. This particular episode aroused great wonder and awe among participants which included the French Soldiers guarding him, who were ingreat wonder and awestruck disbelief, at the miraculous incident which had occurred. There is a Cause in progress and Pope Pius VII has since been elected as the Patron of the Diocese of Savona and the Patron of prisoners.
Saint of the Day – 13 July – Saint Turian (Died c750) French Abbot and Confessor, Bishop of Dol, Born in Brittany, France and died in c750 of natural causes. Also known as – Turiaf, Thivisiau, Tuien, Turiav, Turiave, Turiavus, Turien, Turiano, Turiavo, Turian of Dol.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Bretagne, St Turian, Bishop and Confessor, a man of admirable simplicity and innocence.”
Turian was born in Brittany to French nobility in the Diocess of Vannes, in the neighbourhood of the Abbey of Ballon.
At a young age, Turian entered the Monastery at Dol where he was instructed in piety and learning and promoted to Holy Orders by Saint Thiarmail.
The then Bishop of Dol, St Samson, appointed him his vicar and and at his death, probably in 733, our Saint was placed in that Episcopal Seat.
Admirable was the austerity of his life, his zeal, his charity, his watchfulness, his fervour in prayer and his firmness in maintaining discipline.
A powerful lord named Rivallon having committed many acts of violence, the Bishop went to his castle at Lanncafrut and by his strong remonstrances made him sensible of the enormity of his crimes. By the Bishop’s injunction, Rivallon underwent a canonical penance for seven years and repaired all injustices and oppressions by a sevenfold satisfaction.
The Crucifix in the St Turian’s Church Square
Saint Turian died on the 13th of July, probably about the year 750, although even the year is not certain. In the wars of the Normans, Turian’s Relics were brought to Paris and are still kept in the Abbey of Saint Germain-des-Prez. The new Paris Breviary mentions that dreadful fires have been sometimes miraculously extinguished by our Saints intercession wrought by prayer at the Shrine of his Relics.
There is a Town name for him wherein the Parish Church of St Turian resides.
Bl Anne-Andrée Minutte St Arno of Würzburg Bl Berthold of Scheide St Dogfan Bl Élisabeth Verchière St Esdras the Prophet St Eugene of Carthage St Giustina of Arzano
St Iosephus Wang Kuiju
Blessed James of Voragine OP (c1226 – 3 or 16 July 1298) Italian Archbishop of Genoa, Author of the ‘Golden Legend’ (a collection of lives of Saints and treatises on Christian festivals, one of the most popular religious works of the Middle Ages and is still published and referred to today – completed 1265), Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers of St Dominic, Writer, Scholar of great genius, Prior and Provincial General of the Order. Blessed James was Beatified on 11 May 1816 by Pope Pius VII. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/13/saint-of-the-day-13-july-blessed-james-of-voragine-op-c-1226-1298-author-of-the-golden-legend/
Bl Jean of France St Joel the Prophet Bl Marie-Anastasie de Roquard Bl Marie-Anne Depeyre Bl Marie-Anne Lambert
St Muritta of Carthage St Myrope St Salutaris of Carthage St Sarra of Egypt St Serapion of Alexandria Serapion of Macedonia St Silas (1st Century) Disciple of Sts Paul and Barnabas Bl Thérèse-Henriette Faurie Bl Thomas Tunstal St Turian (Died c750) French Abbot and Bishop
Martyrs of Cyprus – 300 Saints: 300 Christians who retired to Cyprus to live as cave Hermits, devoting themselves to prayer and an ascetic life devoted to God. Tortured and Martyred for their faith and their bodies thrown into the various caves in which they had lived. We know the names of five of them but no other details even about them – Ammon, Choulélaios, Epaphroditus, Eusthénios and Héliophotos. They were beheaded in the 12th century on Cyprus and their bodies dumped in the cave where they had lived and only rediscovered long afterwards.
Martyrs of Philomelio – 31 Saints: 31 soldiers Martyred for their faith in the persecutions of prefect Magno, date unknown. The only name that has come down to us is Alexander. In Philomelio, Phrygia (in modern Turkey).
Thought for the Day – 12 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Grace of God
“It is astonishing to consider how much St Paul accomplished when he had been transformed by the grace of God. Formerly, a persecutor of Christians, he became the Apostle of the Gentiles. Enlightened by faith and inspired by charity, he travelled the globe, spreading everywhere, the religion of Jesus Christ.
He feared neither the anger of the hostile Jews, nor the tribunals of the Roman judges, neither long and difficult journeys, nor scourging, shipwreck and imprisonment. “The love of Christ impels us,” (2 Cor 5:14) he said. It was the love of God which drove him on and on, until he met his martyrdom. But what about ourselves? We also have received grace from God. Often we hear His voice appealing to us to abandon our sinful ways, to practise virtue, to love Him more ardently and to prove our love, by deeds. If we co-operate, we shall be able to say with St Paul: “by the grace of God, I am what I am and his grace in me has not been fruitless,” (1 Cor 15:10) and “I have laboured … yet, not I but the grace of God with me” (ibid).
It is wise to recall, however, that Judas also received special graces from God. He did not correspond with them and was probably damned for eternity. If we fail to correspond with God’s graces, the result will be tragic for ourselves.”
Quote/s of the Day – 12 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St John Gualbert (c985-1073) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, Matthew 5:43-48 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“But I say to you, love your enemies …” Matthew 5:44
St John Gualbert said to his enemy, “I cannot refuse what you ask in Christ’s Name. I grant you your life and I give you my friendship. Pray that God may forgive me my sin.”
St John Gualbert (c985-1073) “The Merciful Knight”
“To the extent that you pray, with all your soul, for the person who slanders you, God will make the truth known to those who have been scandalised by the slander.”
St Maximus the Confessor (c 580–662)
“Remember the sufferings of Christ, the storms that were weathered… the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith… All Saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no-one ever wins the crown.”
St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury
“Above all, avoid false accusations and the distortion of truth regarding your neighbour.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer Jesus Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 12 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St John Gualbert (c985-1073) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, Matthew 5:43-48 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“But I say to you, Love your enemies …” Matthew 5:44
REFLECTION – “Let us pay attention, all my brothers, to what the Lord says: “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you,” for our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose footprints we must follow (cf 1 Pt 2:21), called His betrayer “friend” (Mt 26:50) and gave Himself willingly to those who crucified Him. Our friends, then, are all those who, unjustly afflict upon us, trials and ordeals, shame and injuries, sorrows and torments, martyrdom and death! We must love them greatly for we will possess eternal life because of what they bring upon us.” – St Francis of Assisi (c1181-1226) Founder of the Friars Minor (Earlier Rule, #22).
PRAYER – May the intercession of the blessed Abbot John commend us to Thee, O Lord, so that through his merits we may obtain that which we cannot accomplish by our own. 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 the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 12 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus”
Grant Me Grace, O Merciful God Daily Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) (Which he was accustomed to recite everyday before the image of Christ.) Doctor Angelicus & Doctor Communis
Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully and to accomplish it perfectly, for the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen
Saint of the Day – 12 July – Saint Leo of Cava (c990-1079) The second Abbot of the Abbey of La Trinità della Cava, Apostle of the poor and needy. Born in c990 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy and died in 1079 at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in La Cava de Tirreni at Salerno, Italy of natural causes.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In the Monastery of La Trinità della Cava in Campania, Saint Leo I, Abbot, who provided for the poor with the work of his own hands and defended them from the powerful.”
The apparition of the Virgin to St Leo
Leo. a native of Lucca, became one of the first disciples of St Alferius, the noble hermit from Salerno, while he was still living in his Arsicia cave, at the foot of Monte Finestra, today in the Municipality of Cava de ‘Tirreni.
The goodness, humility and piety which distinguished Leo, meant that the old hermit Alferius, wante him as his successor at the helm of the nascent Abbey of the Trinità di Cava, which he founded.
Leo governed the Monastery for almost thirty years, from 1050 to 1079, personally leading a very simple life’ The beginnings of his government as Abbot was troubled by the arrogance of a local Lord whose name is unknown, who even attacked the Monastery by taking the Abbot prisoner for a short time!
But Leo managed to gain the favour of the neighbouring Barons, who bestowed many donations on the Abbey of the Trinity. It is said of Leo that he often went to collect wood in the woods and then sold it in Salerno and, with the proceeds, he sought out the poor and the needy in the surrounding regions.
When he too became old, he entrusted the office of Abbot to St Peter of Pappacarbone but Leo had to resume governance of the Monastery to soften the Cluniac rigour established by Peter of Pappacarbone, which had aroused discontent among the Monks.
During his government, Pope Gregory VII solemnly confirmed the Ordo Cavensis.
He died on 12 July 1079 and was buried in the ‘Arsicia’ cave which is now incorporated into the Chapel of the Sainted Fathers, where the Relics of St Alferius and other Saints and blessed Abbots of the famous Abbey are enshrined.
In 1641, a new Altar and Mausoleum was erected in this Chapel. On 21 December 1893, the Church, through Pope Leo XIII, confirmed the cult of the first four Abbots: Saints Alferius, Leo, Peter I, Constabilis.
Bl Conrad of Maleville Bl David Gonson St Epiphana St Faustus the Soldier St Felix of Milan * Commemorated with St Nabor St Fortunatus of Aquileia (1st Century – Died c66) Deacon St Hermagorus of Aquileia (1st Century – Died c 66) Bishop, Disciple of St Mark the Evangelist Bl Guy Vignotelli St Hilarion of Ancyra St Jason of Tarsus Bl Jeanne-Marie de Romillon
St John the Georgian Bl Lambert of Cîteaux St Leo of Cava (Died 1079) The second Abbot of the Abbey of La Trinità della Cava Bl Madeleine-Thérèse Talieu Bl Marguerite-Eléonore de Justamond Bl Marie Cluse St Menas the Soldier St Menulphus of Quimper St Nabor of Milan * Commemorated with St Felix St Paternian of Bologna St Paulinus of Antioch St Phêrô Khan St Proclus of Ancyra St Proculus of Bologna St Uguzo of Carvagna St Ultán
St Viventiolus of Lyons
Three Holy Exiles: Three Christian men who became Benedictine Monks at the Saint James Abbey in Regensburg, Germany, then Hermits at Griestatten and whose lives and piety are celebrated together. – Marinus, Vimius and Zimius.
Martyrs of Rome – Four members of the Imperial Roman nobility. They were all soldiers, one or more may have been officers, and all were Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian – Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor and Nazarius. Died in c 304 outside Rome, Italy and were buried there along the Aurelian Way.
Martyrs of Nagasaki – 8 Beati: Additional Memorial – 10 September as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan Eight lay people, many them related to each other, who were martyred together: Catharina Tanaka Ioannes Onizuka Naizen Ioannes Tanaka Ludovicus Onizuka Matthias Araki Hyozaemon Monica Onizuka Petrus Araki Chobyoe Susanna Chobyoe 12 July 1626 in Nagasaki, Japan Beatified on 7 May 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius IX.
So once again we had an unscheduled BLACK-OUT yesterday – hence the shortage of posts.
At least most of you know the situation in South Africa, for the rest who have not heard of the crises called Loadshedding (controlled or scheduled power outages), if I suddenly disappear mid-word – it will definitely be another ESKOM power outage, either scheduled which has simply failed to return to ON or unscheduled which, at present, seems almost as common as ‘scheduled’ – a very BIG SIGH ….
Be it light or be it dark, I never cease praying for you all … 🙏🙏🙏🤗💖 Ana
Thought for the Day – 11 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Enemies of the Soul
“The second enemy is the world. There are so many beautiful things around us reflecting the power and the goodness of God. These should be an invitation to us to love their Creator and a spiritual ladder which leads us towards Him. Unfortunately, we often go astray in the midst of the passing beauty of this world. Often we set our hearts upon this beauty, our hearts which should belong wholly to God and which can find peace and happiness in Him alone. Sometimes worldly objects deceive the senses and ensnare the will. Riches, pleasures and honours attract us and we fail to remember that everything on earth passes like a shadow and that when we shall stand before the Judgement Seat of God, only our good works will accompany us!”
Our Morning Offering – 11 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus”
Heal Us, Lord God By St Albert of Trapani O.Carm. (c1240-1307)
O my God, Thou hast created the human race by Thine wonderful power. It is an act of Thy clemency which hast called us to share Thy glory and eternal life. When the first sin condemned us to suffer death, out of Thine goodness, Thou wished to redeem us through the Blood of Thy Son, To unite us to Thyself through our faith and Thy great mercy. Thou hast brought us back from the shame of our sin, Thou hast veiled our dishonour in the brightness of Thy glory. Look now and see that which Thou hast created, giving it subtle limbs and joints and made beautiful through its immortal soul, is now subject to the attack of Satan. Be pleased Lord, to reconstitute Thine work and heal it. May Thy power be glorified and may the malice of the enemy be stunned! Amen
Saint/s of the Day – 11 July – St Sigisbert (7th Century) Abbot, French Pilgrim Monk and St Placidus (7th Century) Martyr, Swiss Layman, local landowner and Councillor, both of Disentis. Their cult was confirmed by Pope Pius X in 1905.
St Placidus donated the land to St Sigisbert, on which Disentis Abbey was founded in Switzerland. He then joined it as a Monk and later was Martyred defending the Ecclesiastical rights of the Abbey. It seems from the image below of the Martyrdom of St Placidus, that he was beheaded and was a Cephalophore – a Saint who is generally depicted carrying his own severed head.
We have nothing of the lives available to us except what we find on the Benedictine Abbey site. How Sigisbert arrived at the location of this magnificent Monastery which he founded with St Placidus and how they became firstly friends and then fellow Monks, we cannot say.
St Sigisbert
The Benedictine Monastery Disentis is located high up in the Vorderrheintal valley of Grisons, at the intersection of the Lukmanier and Oberalp pass., in the beautiful Mountains of Switzerland. The Abbey was founded around the 7th century by the Franconian wandering Monk St Sigisbert with the help of the local Councillor St Placidus.
The Monastery Disentis preserves a rich cultural heritage. The baroque complex bears witness to the generous confidence of the post-reformation period and is a striking landmark in the landscape.
In addition to the excellently documented history of the Monastery, it has a comprehensive Roman library and covers the cultural and natural history of the region with a well-designed Monastery Museum. There is also a new school, including a new addition for boarders.
St Pius I, Pope (Died c 154) Martyr – The Ninth Successor of St Peter. Papal Ascension c 142. Born at Aquileia, Italy and died in Rome. The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Rome, the blessed Pius, Pope and Martyr, who was crowned with Martyrdom in the persecution of Marcus Aurelius.” His Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/11/saint-of-the-day-11-july-saint-pope-pius-i-died-c-154/
St Abundius of Ananelos St Amabilis of Rouen St Anna An Jiaoshi St Anna An Xingshi Bl Antonio Muller St Berthevin of Lisieux St Cindeus St Cowair St Cyprian of Brescia St Cyriacus the Executioner St Hidulf of Moyenmoutier St Januarius St John of Bergamo
St Leontius the Younger St Marcian of Lycaonia St Marciana of Caesarea Bl Maria An Guoshi Bl Maria An Linghua Bl Marie-Clotilde Blanc Bl Marie-Marguerite de Barbégie d’Albrède
St Olga Queen of Kiev (c 890-969) She was known as a ruthless and effective ruler but “when Olga was enlightened, she rejoiced in soul and body. The Bishop, who instructed her in the faith, said to her, ‘Blessed art thou among the women of Rus,’,for thou hast loved the light and quit the darkness. The sons of Rus’ shall bless thee to the last generation of thy descendants.” About St Olga: https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/11/saint-of-the-day-11-july-saint-olga-queen-of-kiev-c-890-969/
St Placidus of Disentis * (7th Century) Monk Bl Rosalie-Clotilde Bes St Sabinus of Brescia St Sabinus of Poitiers St Sidronius St Sigisbert of Disentis * (7th Century) Abbot St Thurketyl
Thought for the Day – 10 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Good Odour of Christ
“I ought to examine the way in which I behave in the Church, in my family and in society. When I am in the Church, my whole being should be absorbed in prayer. My mind should be occupied with God, my heart should love Him and my lips should praise and thank Him. Anyone who sees me praying, should wish to do the same.
When I am in my own home, I should promote peace and harmony by my good example. The family is like a miniature Church, in which everyone should exercise some priestly function in keeping with his position.
Finally, I should carry about, in society, ‘the good odour of Christ‘ – the fragrance of my interior holiness. I can do this if I am not ashamed of my Christian Faith and if I act constantly in perfect accordance with the evangelical precepts.
When I have examined myself on these points, I should form resolutions whicb will help me to improve my behaviour.”
Quote/s of the Day – 10 July – Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 12:46-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, is My brother and My sister and My mother.”
Matthew 12:50
“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
“Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord’s words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better, than he who seeks not to do his own will but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become a Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”
St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)
“Happy the soul which detaches itself from its own pleasure, from its own will, from its own understanding. A sublime lesson is this and God will teach it, to all those who place their happiness in the Cross of Jesus Christ.”
“Whatever may happen to us, we ought not to be disturbed. Let us calmly and quietly say: ‘the will of God be done’– let us leave all to God – the Lord be blessed forever – what He wills, I will, in time and in eternity.”
One Minute Reflection – 10 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Rufina and St Secunda of Rome (3rd Century) Virgin Martyrs – Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 12:46-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, is My brother and My sister and My mother.” – Matthew 12:50
REFLECTION – “I beg you to listen to what the Lord had to say when He stretched out His hand towards His disciples: “Here are My mother and My brethren” and, “whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, is My brother and My sister and My mother.”Are we to take it from this that the Virgin Mary did not do the will of the Father, she who by faith believed, by faith conceived; she who was chosen to bring forth salvation on our behalf and who, was by Christ created that Christ in her, might be created? Indeed and indeed, she did the Father’s will and it is a greater thing for Mary that she was Christ’s disciple, than that she was His Mother. It is a happier thing to be His disciple, than to be His Mother. Blessed then is Mary, who bore her Lord in her body, before she gave Him birth…
Mary is holy. Mary is blessed. Yet the Church is greater than she is. What reason do I bring? Mary is part of the Church. She is a holy member of the Church; she is THE holy member; she is the member above all member hut, she is still one member of the whole body… Brothers, listen very closely – you are members of Christ’s body and you are the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27). And this is how you are what He said: “Here are My mother and My brothers.” But how does this prove you are Christ’s mother? He goes on: “Whoever hears and whoever does the will of my heavenly Father, is My brother and My sister and My mother.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 25 on Saint Matthew).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who know how courageously Thy holy Martyrs have confessed the faith, may experience their goodness as they intercede for us with Thee.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering –10 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus”
I Rise In God’s Strength An Old Morning Prayer (Excerpt) From The Blossoms of the Cross — 1894 The Sisters of St Joseph
I rise In God’s strength, In God’s power, In the Agony of Christ, In the Cross of Christ, In Christ’s Precious Blood, These will sustain me against my enemies, visible and invisible. I rise in the blessing of Christ which my dearest Jesus left to the whole world. Protect me, All-Holy Trinity, God the Father, Who created me, God, the Son, Who redeemed me in His Precious Blood, God, the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified me in Holy Baptism. God, the Father, I give myself to Thee! God, the Son, I commend myself to Thee! God, the Holy Ghost, teach me! Mary, Mother of God, assist me! All you Saints of God, pray for me! All you Holy Angels, protect me! The Cross of Christ preserve me! Amen
Saint of the Day – 10 July – St Peter Vincioli (Died 1007) Abbot, Priest, Founder of a Monastery dedicated to St Peter in Perugia, Italy, Architect by profession before entering the Monastery as a Monk. Born in Perugia, Italy and died there in 1007 of natural causes. Also known as – Pietro, Petrus, Peter of Perugia.
We have no information regarding his parents, family and youth but we presume Peter was born into a reasonably wealthy family in Perugia, considering the education afforded him.
After a secular career as an Architect Peter gave himself to the service of our Lord Jesus and became a Priest. Of this timewe again have no recorded information.
Later he entered the Monastery and after a time founded, designed and built a new Monastery dedicated to St Peter. Here he became the Abbot.
Using his talents for the Church, Peter, as Architect, continued in the design, rebuilding and construction, where needed, of other structures in his Diocese. Deo Gratias.
St Cuán of Airbhre St Elilantus St Etto Bl Euménios St Lantfrid Bl Marie-Gertrude de Ripert d’Alauzier Bl Parthenios St Pascharius of Nantes St Peter Vincioli (Died 1007) Abbot, Founder of a Monastery in Perugia, Italy St Sylvanus of Pisidia Bl Sylvie-Agnès de Romillon St Waltram
Martyrs of Africa – 4 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together in Africa. The only information that has survived are four of their names – Felix, Januarius, Marinus and Nabor.
Martyrs of Antioch – 10 Saints: A group of ten Christians Martyred together. We have no details about them but the names – Diogenes, Domnina, Esicius, Macarius, Maxima, Maximus, Rodigus, Timoteus, Veronia and Zacheus. They were martyred in Antioch, date unknown.
Martyrs of Damascus – 11 Beati: A group of Franciscans and laymen ordered by Druz Muslims to convert to Islam. They refused and were hacked to pieces. ‘Abd Al-Mu’ti Masabki Carmelo Bolta Bañuls Engelbert Kolland Francisco Pinazo Peñalver Fransis Masabki Juan Jacobo Fernández y Fernández Manuel Ruiz López Nicanor Ascanio de Soria Nicolás María Alberca Torres Pedro Soler Méndez Rufayil Masabki They were cut to pieces on 9-10 July 1860 in Damascus, Syria. Beatified on 10 October 1926 by Pope Pius XI.
Martyrs of Nicopolis – 45 Saints: A group of 45 Christians tortured and Martyred together in the persecutions of emperor Licinius. We know nothing else but six of their names – Anicetus, Anthony, Daniel, Leontius, Mauritius and Sisinno. c 329 in Nicopolis, Armenia (modern Koyulhisar, Turkey).
Martyrs of Nitria – 5 Saints: Fathers of Nitria – Four Monks and the Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt who were Martyred by heretics. Saint John Chrysostom wrote about them but their names have not come down to us. They were Martyred in the 4th century in Nitria, Egypt.
Thought for the Day – 9 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Vanity
“What hast thou,” asks St Paul, “which thou hast not received? And if thou hast received it, why dost thou boast as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). Whenever we are tempted to be proud or boastful, let us reflect on these words of the Apostle of the Gentiles. In spite of the miracles which he had worked and the sacrifices which he had endured for the love of Jesus, he said: “I am nothing” (2 Cor 12:11).
If we model our lives on this outstanding example, we shall have peace on earth and an everlasting reward in Heaven.”
Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher (1469-1535) Martyr, Bishop and St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor
“I reckon in this realm, no one man, in wisdom, learning and long approved virtue together, meet to be matched and compared with him.”
St Thomas More speaking of St John Fisher
“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner, who desires to recover health of his soul. And, in doing penance, there be three things to be considered: serious compunction of heart, confession of mouth and satisfaction by deed.”
“Beware of those prophets who speak unto you and deceive you! They prophecy nothing but the imaginations and forgings of their own minds and not the truth of Holy Scripture!”
St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Give Me Thy Grace, Good Lord! A Prayer of Hope By St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Give me Thy grace, good Lord. To set the world at naught. To set the mind firmly on Thee and not to hang upon the words of men’s mouths. To be content to be solitary. Not to long for worldly pleasures. Little by little, utterly to cast off the world and rid my mind of all its business. Not to long to hear of earthly things but that the hearing of worldly fancies, may be displeasing to me. Gladly to be thinking of God, piteously to call for His help. To lean into the comfort of God. Busily to labour to love Him. To know mine own vileness and wretchedness. To humble myself under the mighty Hand of God. To bewail my sins past, for the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity. Gladly to bear my purgatory here. To be joyful in tribulations. To walk the narrow way that leads to life. To bear the Cross with Christ. To have the last thing in remembrance. To have ever before mine eyes, my death that is ever at hand. To make death no stranger to me. To foresee and consider, the everlasting fire of Hell. To pray for pardon before the Judge come. To have continually in mind, the Passion that Christ suffered for me. For His benefits, unceasingly to give Him thanks. To buy the time again, that I before have lost. To abstain from vain conversations. To shun foolish mirth and gladness. To cut off unnecessary recreations. Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all, to set the loss at naught, for the winning of Christ. To think my worst enemies, my best friends, for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favour, as they did him, with their malice and hatred. These minds are more to be desired of every man, than all the treasures of all the princes and kings, Christian and heathen, were it gathered and laid together, all in one heap. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 9 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – Pentecost VI – Romans 6:3-11, Mark 8:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I have compassion on the multitude, for behold they have now been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.” – Mark 8:2
REFLECTION – “ In this account of the miracle we must consider, in one and the same Redeemer, the separate operation of His Divinity and of His Humanity. And the error of Eutyches, who dared to teach that in Christ there is but one operation, must be wholly driven out from Christian lands. Who cannot see that the Lord, in having compassion on the multitude, lest they faint from want of food or from the weariness of the long journey home, was moved by the compassion of human pity but that, feeding four thousand people from seven loaves and a few fish, is a work of Divine Power?
“And they collected seven baskets full of fragments.” That multitude who had just eaten and been fille, did not carry away with them the remains of the loaves but left them to be gathered into baskets by the disciples, as before. And taken literally, this event teaches us to be content with what is necessary and never to look for anything more than that. Then the Evangelist makes known to us the number of those who were satisfied – “Now those who ate were about four thousand and He dismissed them” Here, let us consider that our Lord Jesus Christ does not wish to send anyone away hungry, since to the contrary, He wants to give to everyone the nourishment of His grace.
In a figurative sense, there is this difference between this second miracle and the first multiplication of the five loaves and two fish – the first prefigures the letter of the Old Testament, which was as though full of the spiritual grace of the New, whereas the second, represents the truth and grace of the New Testament fully communicated to the faithful. The multitude who, according to Saint Matthew’s testimony, wait three days for the healing of their sick (Mt 15), represent the elect in the faith of the Holy Trinity, who beg for the forgiveness of their sins, with persevering prayer, or those who are converted to the Lord, through their thoughts, words and deeds.” – St Bede the Venerable (673-735) Monk, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Mark, Book II, ch8 cf PL 92 – quoted by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the Catena Aurea Vol 4)
PRAYER – O God of the heavenly powers, creator of all good things, implant in our hearts the love of Thy Name and bestow upon us, an increase of godliness, fostering what is good and, by Thy loving care, guarding what Thou hast fostered. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Deus, Creator Omnium O God, Creator of Us All St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor
O God, Creator of us all, From Whom we come, to Whom we go, You look with pity on our hearts, The weakness of our wills You know.
Forgive us all the wrong we do And purify each sinful soul. What we have darkened, heal with light And what we have destroyed, make whole.
The fast by law and prophets taught, By You, O Christ, was sanctified. Bless all our penance, give us strength, To share the Cross on which You died.
O God of mercy, hear our prayer, With Christ Your Son and Spirit blest, Transcendent Trinity in Whom, Created thing
This Hymn was used as the Hymn for Vespers I of Sunday (Saturday Evening) in the Sarum Breviary during the weeks following Epiphany. It is used in the Ambrosian Breviary for Vespers on Sundays and Weekdays in the weeks after Epiphany and Pentecost. This version translated by Stanbrook Abbey.
Saints of the Day – 9 July – The 19 Martyrs of Gorkum, Netherlands.
The Roman Martyrology notes today as the Feast of a group of Saints known as the Martyrs of Gorkum.
The Roman Martyrology (1914 Ed) notes today as the Feast of a group of Saints known as the Martyrs of Gorkum:“At Briel in Holland, the Martyrdom of the 19 Martyrs of Gorkum. For vindicating the authority of the Roman Church and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, they endured various ignominies and torments from the Calvinist heretics and ended their suffering by being put to death. In the year 1867, Pope Pius IX placed them among the holy Martyrs.” They were solemnly Canonised in 1867 by Pope Pius IX, as part of a year-long series of celebrations to commemorate the 18th Centenary of the Martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul, then generally held to have taken place in 67.
The year 1572, Luther and Calvin had already wrested from the Church a great part of Europe. The iconoclastic storm had swept through the Netherlands and was followed by a struggle between Lutheranism and Calvinism in which the latter was victorious.
In 1571 the Calvinists held their first synod, at Embden. On 1 April of the next year, the Dutch Watergeuzen (Sea-beggars, a Calvinist organisation) conquered Briel and later Vlissingen and other Cities and regions. In June, Dortrecht and Gorkum fell into their hands and at Gorkum they captured nine Franciscans. These were: Nicholas Pieck, Guardian of Gorkum, Hieronymns of Weert, Vicar, Theodorus van der Eem, of Amersfoort, Nicasius Janssen, of Heeze, Willehad of Denmark, Godefried of Mervel, Antonius of Weert, Antonius of Hoornaer, and Franciseus de Roye, of Brussels. To these were added two Lay Brothers from the same Monastery, Petrus of Assche and Cornelius of Wyk near Duurstede.
Almost at the same time, the Calvinists laid their hands on the learned Parish Priest of Gorkum, Leonardus Vechel of Bois-le-Duc, who had made distinguished studies in Louvain and also his assistant. Nicolaas Janssen, surnamed Poppel, of Welde in Belgium. With the above, were also imprisoned Godefried van Duynsen, of Gorkum who was active as a Priest in his native City and Joannes Lenartz of Oisterwljk, an Augustinian and director of the Convent of Augustinian Nuns in Gorkum.
By Cesare Fracassini (1838-1868), Vatican Museum
To these fifteen, who from the very first underwent all the sufferings and torments of the persecution, were later added four more companions – Joannes van Hoornaer, (known as St John of Cologne) a Dominican of the Cologne province and Parish Priest not far from Gorkum, who, when apprised of the incarceration of the clergy of Gorkum, hastened to the City in order to administer the Sacraments to them and was seized and imprisoned with the rest. Also Jacobus Lacops of Oudenaar, a Norbertine, who after leading a frivolous life, being disobedient to his Order and neglectful of his religious duties, reformed, became a curate in Monster, Holland and was imprisoned in 1572. Adrianus Janssen of Hilvarenbeek, at one time a Premonstratensian and Parish Priest in Monster, who was sent to Brielle with Jacobus Lacops and lastly, Andreas Wouters of Heynoord, whose conduct was not edifying up to the time of his arrest but,, who made ample amends by his Martyrdom.
After enduring much suffering and abuse in the prison at Gorkum (26 June-6 July) the first fifteen Martyrs were transferred to Brielle. On their way to Dortrecht, they were exhibited for money to the curious and arrived at Brielle on 8 July. On the following day, Lumey, the Commander of the Watergeuzen, caused the Martyrs to be interrogated and ordered a sort of disputation.
In the meantime, the four other Martyrs also arrived. It was exacted of each that he abandon his belief in the Blessed Sacrament and in Papal Supremacy. All remained firm in their faith. Meanwhile, a letter arrived from William of Orange, an important secular leader, which enjoined all those in authority to leave Priests and Religious unmolested. Nevertheless, Lumey caused the Martyrs to be hanged in the night of 9 July, in a turf-shed amid cruel mutilations.
The reliquary of the Martyrs of Gorkum at the Franciscan church of St Nicholas in Brussels.
Their Beatification took place on 14 November 1675 by Pope Clement X and they were Canonised on 29 June 1867 by Pope Pius IX. Ever since this evil day, the place of their Martyrdom in Brielle has been the scene of numerous pilgrimages and processions.
The Apotheosis of the Martyrs of Gorkum 1572, print made by Jean-Baptiste Nolin after a painting by Johan Zierneels, 1675
St Maria Goretti (1890-1902) Virgin and Martyr, known as “Saint Agnes of the 20th Century.” She was Canonised on 24 June 1950 by Pope Pius XII The ceremony was attended by 250,000 including her mother, the only time a parent has witnessed her child’s Canonisation. Her Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/06/saint-of-the-day-6-july-st-maria-goretti/
Blessed Adrian Fortescue TOSD (1476-1539) Martyr,. A husband and father, a Justice of the Peace, a Knight of the Realm, a Knight of Malta and a Dominican Tertiary (Lay Dominican), he was at once a loyal servant of the Crown so far as he could be but still more, he was a man of unshakeable faith and love of the One True Faith. He was Beatified on 13 May 1895 by Pope Leo XIII. About Blessed Adrian: https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/09/saint-of-the-day-blessed-adrian-fortescue-1476-1539-martyr/
St Agrippinus of Autun St Alexander of Egypt St Audax of Thora St Brictius of Martola St Copra of Egypt St Cyril of Gortyna Bl Dionysius the Rhetorician St Everild of Everingham St Faustina of Rome St Felician of Sicily
Blessed Giovanna Scopelli O.Carm (1428 – 1491) Virgin, Mystic, Italian Religious of the Carmelites and established her own Convent as its first Prioress. She was known, during her lifetime as a Miracle-worker with many coming to her to ask for her assistance and prayers. Her body is incorrupt. About Blessed Giovanna: https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/09/saint-of-the-day-9-july-blessed-giovanna-scopelli-o-carm-1428-1491/
St Floriana of Rome St Hérombert of Minden Bl Joachim Ho St John of Cologne OP (Died 1572) Priest Martyrand the MARTYRS of GORKUM Bl Luigi Caburlotto Bl Marguerite-Marie-Anne de Rocher Bl Marie-Anne-Madeleine de Guilhermier St Patermutius of Egypt St Paulina do Coração Agonizante de Jesus
Four Holy Polish Brothers – 4 Saints: Four brothers who became hermits, Benedictine Monks and Saints – Andrew, Barnabas, Benedict and Justus. They were born in Poland and died in 1008 of natural causes.
Martyrs of Gorkum – 19 Saints: Nineteen Martyrs killed by Calvinists for loyalty to the Pope and for their belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. They are – Adrianus van Hilvarenbeek • Andreas Wouters • Antonius van Hoornaar • Antonius van Weert • Cornelius van Wijk • Francisus de Roye • Godfried van Duynen • Godfried van Melveren • Hieronymus van Weert • Jacobus Lacops • Joannes Lenaerts • John of Cologne • Leonardus van Veghel • Nicasius Janssen van Heeze • Nicolaas Pieck • Nicolaas Poppel • Petrus van Assche • Theodorus van der Eem • Willehad van Deem • They werehanged on 9 July 1572 in Brielle, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. Beatified on 24 November 1675 by Pope Clement X and Canonised on 29 June 1867 by Pope Pius IX.
Martyrs of Orange – 32 Beati: 32 Nuns from several Orders who spent up to 18 months in prison and were finally executed for refusing to renounce Christianity during the persecutions of the French Revolution. Anne Cartier • Anne-Andrée Minutte • Dorothée-Madeleine-Julie de Justamond • élisabeth Verchière • élisabeth-Thérèse de Consolin • Jeanne-Marie de Romillon • Madeleine-Françoise de Justamond • Madeleine-Thérèse Talieu • Marguerite-Eléonore de Justamond • Marguerite-Marie-Anne de Rocher • Marguerite-Rose de Gordon • Marguerite-Thérèse Charensol • Marie Cluse • Marie-Anastasie de Roquard • Marie-Anne Béguin-Royal • Marie-Anne Depeyre • Marie-Anne Doux • Marie-Anne Lambert • Marie-Anne-Madeleine de Guilhermier • Marie-Claire du Bac • Marie-Clotilde Blanc • Marie-Elisabeth Pélissier • Marie-Gabrielle-Françoise-Suzanne de Gaillard de Lavaldène • Marie-Gertrude de Ripert d’Alauzier • Marie-Marguerite Bonnet • Marie-Marguerite de Barbégie d’Albrède • Marie-Rose Laye • Rosalie-Clotilde Bes • Suzanne-Agathe Deloye • Sylvie-Agnès de Romillon • Thérèse-Henriette Faurie They were guillotined between 6 July and 26 July 1794 at Orange, Vaucluse, France. Beatified on 10 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
Martyrs of the Baths – 10,204 Saints: A group of Christians enslaved by Diocletian to build the gigantic baths in imperial Rome, Italy. The end of their labours coincided with the beginning of the great persecutions of Diocletian and they were all executed. Ancient records indicated there were 10,204 of them; Zeno of Rome is the only one whose name has come down to us and we know nothing else about any of their individual lives.
Thought for the Day – 8 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Uncharitableness
“It is no excuse to claim that we only speak of matters which are true and known to all. They maybe true but God alone can judge the human conscience. They maybe known to all but, by our maliciousness, we are spreading evil about our neighbour, whereas we ought to try and spread only what is good.
Besides being opposed to Christian charity, unkind conversation ruins whatever opportunities we may have of practising the apostolate in which everyone is obliged to play his part. If we are apostolic, we promote our neighbour’s spiritual welfare, whereas uncharitable criticism, spreads evil about him and gives bad example to others.”
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