One Minute Reflection – 25 February – The First Saturday of Lent – Isaias 58:9-14, Mark 6:47-56 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And wherever He went, into village or hamlet or town, they laid the sick in the market places, and entreated Him to let them touch but the tassel of His cloak and as many as touched. Him were saved. ” – Mark 6:56
REFLECTION – “Let us set before our interior consideration, someone gravely wounded who is about to breathe his last. … Now, the soul’s wound is sin, of which Scripture speaks in these terms: “Wound and welt and gaping gash, not drained or bandaged or eased with salve” (Is 1:6). Oh you who are wounded, recognise your Physician within you and show Him the wounds of your sins. May He understand your heart’s groaning, Who already knows its secret thoughts. May your tears move Him. Go as far as a little shamelessness in your beseeching (cf. Lk 11:8). Bring forth deep sighs to Him, without ceasing, from the depth of your heart. May your grief reach Him so that He may say to you also : “The Lord has pardoned your sin” (2 Sam 12:13). Cry out with David, who said: “Have mercy on me, O God, in … the greatness of your compassion” (Ps 50[51]:3). It is as though one were to say: “I am in great danger because of an enormous wound, that no doctor can cure, unless the all-powerful Physician comes to help me.” For this all-powerful Physician, nothing is incurable. He heals without charge, with one word, He restores to health. I would have despaired of my wound, were it not that I placed my trust in the Almighty.” – St Pope Gregory the Great (c 540-604) Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Psalm 50[51])
PRAYER – Hear, O Lord, our humble prayers and grant that we may devoutly keep this fast which has been established, to cure our souls and bodies. 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 – 25 February – The First Saturday of Lent
Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle, Refuge of Sinners By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the Universe, the Advocate, the Hope, the Refuge of sinners, I, who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse this day. I venerate thee, great Queen and I thank thee for the many graces thou hast bestowed upon me, even unto this day, in particular, for having delivered me from the hell which I have so often deserved by my sins. I love thee, my dearest Lady and because of that love, I promise to serve thee willingly forever and to do what I can to make thee loved by others. I place in thee all my hopes for salvation, accept me as thy servant and shelter me under thy mantle, thou, who art the Mother of Mercy. And since thou are so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, or at least, obtain for me the strength to overcome them until death. From thee, I implore, a true love for Jesus Christ. Through thee, I hope to die a holy death. My dear Mother, by thy love for Almighty God, I pray thee to assist me always but most of all, at the last moment of my life. Forsake me not then, until thou shalt see me safely in Heaven, there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies, throughout all eternity. Such is my hope. Amen
Saint of the Day – 25 February – Blessed Robert of Arbrissel (c1045 – 1116) Priest, Itinerant Apostolic Missionary Preacher of immense talent, Founder of the renowned dual Monastery of Fontevraud-l’Abbaye in Pays-de-la-Loire, France, Teacher, both a Reformer, as well as possessing the sometimes opposite virtue of being a Peacemaker. A quite astonishing man.
The first Vita (Life) of Blessed Robert was written by Baudri, Archbishop of Dol in Brittany, Robert’s intimate friend, at the request of Venerable Petronilla of Chemillé, widow and first Abbess of this immense and celebrated Monastery, who was named by Robert to replace him at his death, as Superior General of the Order of Fontevrault. The Feast of Venerable Petronilla (Died 1149) is celebrated by the Order of Fontevrault on 24 April.
Blessed Robert, one of the principal historical figures of his time and one of the most astonishing Saints of the Church, was born at Arbrissel, now Arbressec, a short distance from Rennes, in about 1045, the son of Domalioch and Orguende. His father was a Parish Priest. Married clergy were not uncommon prior to the Gregorian reform.
He studied in Paris, sustained in his poverty by the assistance of charitable benefactors and became there a celebrated Doctor in the Sacred sciences. His remarkable gifts were everywhere appreciated.
It is supposed that he was Ordained a Priest in Paris, before the Bishop of his native Diocese of Rennes recalled him in 1085 to assist him in reforming his flock. There in Brittany, as Archpriest, Robert devoted himself to the healing of feuds, the suppression of simony, lay investiture and irregular marriages. He was compelled, by the hostility his reforming zeal had caused, to leave the Diocese when his Bishop died in 1093.
In 1095, after teaching Theology for a time in Angers, Robert became a Hermit near Laval, living a life of severe penance with several others, in the company of St Bernard of Thiron, afterwards Founder of the Congregation of Tiron, St Vitalis of Savigny, Founder of Savigny Abbey and others of considerable note. In 1096, Robert himself, founded a Monastery at the site where they were then dwelling in the forest of Craon near Roe. This was the Monastery of La Roé of Canons Regular, with Robert becoming himself the first Abbot.
The reputation of the solitaries had attracted many to visit them and the piety, kindness, eloquence and powerful personality of Robert, in particular, drew many followers. It is said that the forest of Craon became the dwelling-place of a multitude of Anchorites, as once the deserts of Egypt were.
Robert was summoned by Pope Urban II to go to Angers to preach for the dedication of a Church. The Pope then sent him out from there as Apostolic Missionary, on a preaching mission of the various Provinces. He left his Abbacy at and taught abandonment of the world and evangelical poverty all over western France. Robert found a patron in Hildebert, Bishop of Le Mans.
His gifts of grace and nature, his eloquence, heightened by his strikingly ascetic appearance, attracted crowds and effected countless conversions. His disciples were of all ages and conditions, including lepers; even whole families followed him everywhere. Thus was founded his famous Monastery of Fontevrault, not far from Cannes, to lodge these flocks of determined followers of the Gospel. The men dwelt in a separate region from the women; each group had its Chapel and the lepers their quarters apart. Charity, silence, modesty and meekness characterised these establishments, which were sustained by the products of the earth and the alms offered by the neighbouring populations.
Until the death of the holy preacher in 1116, he continued to preach everywhere in western France. The enemy of souls could not remain indifferent to all of this Christian sanctity. Persecuted by certain heretics and others during his life, Blessed Robert was accused of exaggeration and calumniated after his death but the accusatory writings were eventually declared to be forgeries. A calumniatory letter, attributed falsely to an Abbot of western France, who had, in other situations shown a vindictive spirit, was definitely proved not to be from his hand but written by the heretic Roscelin and containing pure fabrications.
Blessed Robert is remembered for his ideal of perfect poverty, both exterior and interior, according to the words of Our Lord, His first beatitude – “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” He was buried at Fontevrault, as he had desired to be but his remains were later transferred to a house of the Order, restored in 1806 after the revolution, at Chemillé in the Diocese of Angers.
St Caesarius of Nanzianzen St Donatus the Martyr Saint Felix III, Pope St Gerland the Bishop St Gothard the Hermit St Herena the Martyr St Justus the Martyr
St Nestor of Side St Riginos Blessed Robert of Arbrissel (c1045 – 1116) Priest, Itinerant Missionary Preacher, Founder of the renowned dual Monastery of Fontevraud-l’Abbaye in Pays-de-la-Loire, France, Teacher, both a Reformer, as well as possessing the opposite virtue of being a Peacemaker. A quite astonishing man. St Tharasius St Victor of Saint Gall
Martyrs of Egypt – A group oSeven f Christian men who were exiled to Egypt for their faith and were eventually Martyred for their faith in the persecutions of Numerian. We know little more than their names: Claudianus, Dioscurus, Nicephorus, Papias, Serapion, Victor, Victorinus.
Thought for the Day – 24 February – 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 – 24 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday and the Feast of St Matthias, Apostle – Acts 1:15-26, Matthew 11:25-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, Who knows the hearts of all men, show which of these two Thou hast chosen, to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath, by transgression, fallen …”
Acts 1:24-25
“When we stand in the light it is not we who illumine the light and cause it to shine but we are illuminated and made shining by the light… God grants His blessings on those who serve Him because they are serving Him and on those who follow Him because they are following Him but He receives no blessing from them because He is perfect and without need.”
St Irenaeus(c130-c208) Bishop, Father of the Church
“You did not choose Me but I chose you…”
John 15:16
“That is amazing grace! For what were we before Christ had chosen us besides being wicked and lost? What then has He chosen in those who are not good? You cannot say, I am chosen because I believed. For if you believed in Him, you had already chosen Him. Nor can you say, before I believed I did good works and, therefore, was chosen. For what good work is there before faith when the Apostle says, “Whatever is not of faith is sin?” What is there for us to say, then but that we were wicked and were chosen, that by the grace of having been chosen, we might become good?”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“… It was their vocation to call sinners to repentance, to heal those who were sick, whether in body or spirit, to seek in all their dealing, never to do their own will but the will of Him who sent them and, as far as possible, to save the world by their teaching.”
St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Bishop, Father & Doctor of the Church
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 24 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday, Feast of St Matthias, Apostle
“ Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up.” Psalm 138:1-2
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” Matthew 11:29-30
ON FASTING 3 St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE THIRD CONDITION NECESSARY for fasting well, is to look to God and to do everything to please Him, withdrawing within ourselves in imitation of a great Saint, St Gregory the Great, who, withdrew into a secret and out-of-the-way place, where he remained for some time without anyone knowing where he was, being content that the Lord and His Angels knew it.
This is what Cassian, that great Father of the spiritual life, teaches us so well in the book of his admirable Conferences. (Many Saints held it in such esteem that they never went to bed without reading a chapter from it to recollect their mind to God.) He says: “What will it profit you to do what you are doing for the eyes of creatures? Nothing but vanity and complacency which are good for Hell alone. But if you keep your fast and do all your works to please God alone, you will labour for eternity, without delighting in yourself or caring whether you are seen by others or not, since what you do is not done for them, nor do you await your recompense from them. We must keep our fast with humility and truth and not with lying and hyocrisy – that is, we must fast for God and to please Him alone.” …
This is all I wish to tell you regarding fasting and what must be observed in order to fast well. The first thing is that your fast should be entire and universal – that is that you should make all the members of your body and the powers of your soul fast – keeping your eyes lowered … mortifying the hearing and the tongue, so that you will no longer hear or speak of anything vain or useless; … the memory, in filling it with the remembrance of bitter and sorrowful things and avoiding joyous and gracious thoughts; keeping your will in check and your spirit at the foot of the Crucifix, with some holy and sorrowful thought. If you do this, your fast will be universal, interior and exterior, for you will mortify both your body and your spirit. The second condition is that you do not observe your fast or perform your works, for the eyes of others and the third, is that you do all your actions and consequently, your fasting, to please God alone, to Whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.” – (Excerpt from the Sermon given for Ash Wednesday on 9 February 1622).
One Minute Reflection – 24 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday and the Feast of St Matthias – Acts 1:15-26, Matthew 11:25-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light.” … Matthew 11:29-30
REFLECTION – “You are to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” You are not learning from me how to refashion the fabric of the world, nor to create all things visible and invisible, nor to work miracles and raise the dead. Rather, you are simply learning of me: “that I am meek and lowly in heart.”
If you wish to reach high, then begin at the lowest level. If you are trying to construct some mighty edifice in height, you will begin with the lowest foundation. This is humility. However great the mass of the building you may wish to design or erect, the taller the building is to be, the deeper you will dig the foundation. The building in the course of its erection, rises up high but he who digs its foundation, must first go down very low. So then, you see even a building is low before it is high and the tower is raised, only after humiliation.”… St Augustine(354-430) Father & Doctor (Sermon 69)
PRAYER – O God, Who added blessed Matthias to the company of Thy Apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his intercession we may ever be aware of the depth of Thy love for us. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 24 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday
Daily Morning Prayer Of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
Lord, I lay before Thee my weak heart, which Thou fills with good desires. Thou knows that I am unable to bring the same to good effect, unless Thou bless and prosper them and, therefore, O Loving Father, I entreat Thee to help me by the merits and Passion of Thy dear Son, to Whose honour I would devote this day and my whole life. Amen
Saint of the Day – 24 February – Blessed Marco De’ Marconi OSH (1480-1510) known as “The Glory of Mantua,” Hermit Monk of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Jerome (The Hieronymites) a common name for several congregations of Hermit Monks living according to the Rule of Saint Augustine, although the principle role of their lives is the great Hermit and biblical scholar St Jerome, Father and Doctor of the Church. Marco was gifted with the charism of prophecy and of miracles. Born in 1480 in Mantua, Italy and died on 24 February 1510 in Mantua, Italy of natural causes. His Body is incorrupt. Blessed Mark was Beatified on 2 March 1906 by Pope Pius X.
Marco was the son of poor and simple parents, Hewas born in1480 at Milliarino near Mantua. From early youth he was endowed with a deep sense of piety and gave signs of extraordinary sanctity. At this time, there was in Mantua, a community of the Poor Hermits of St Jerome, who had been founded by the Tertiary Blessed Peter of Pisa. In other Cities of Italy there were similar communities of Hermits; and all of them observed the Rule of the Third Order of St Francis until the year 1568, when they adopted that of St Augustine. Marco entered the Hermitage of St Matthew at Mantua when he was still quite young.
From the very beginning of his religious life, Marco won the admiration of the other Hermits by the cheerfulness and promptness with which he carried out all the spiritual exercises, those which were ordinary, as well as the most difficult. His one desire was to become as perfect an imitator of Christ as possible. Marco possessed the gift of prophecy and of miracles. The people revered him as a saint and considered themselves fortunate if they could touch the hem of his garment.
Living continuously n the presence of God provided Marco with special light, by which he also learned to know himself better day by day. Just as, when the sun’s beams penetrate a room, we can more plainly see all the particles of dust in the air, which would otherwise be invisible and which we had not realised were there, so will the remembrance of an all-holy God Who beholds us, reveal the stains and defects in our hearts, of which we should not otherwise have been aware.
Marco was only thirty when he died on 24 February 1510. His incorrupt body is venerated in the Cathedral, and he is called “The Glory of Mantua.”
His remain were initially buried at the Church of His Monastery in Mantua but when, in the mid-17th Century, this Monastery was destroyed in war, his Relics were moved to a new Monastery and Church, also in Mantua. Later, in the late 18th Century, the Church and Monastery were suppressed and the Relics were briefly hidden. Finally, his body was enshrined in the Cathedral in Mantua, where it is still venerated.
The cult of Blessed Marvo which continued through the Centuries, was finally approved by St Pope Pius X on 2 March 1906. Blessed Marco Marconi may also be counted as one of the glories of the Third Order of St Francis.
Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, through Thy loving kindness, ever guard Thy household that it maybe freed from all adversities by Thy protection and in good deeds, maybe devoted to Thy Name. Through Christ Our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Ghose, God forever and ever. amen.
St Evetius of Nicomedia Bl Ida of Hohenfels St Liudhard Bl Lotario Arnari Blessed Marco De’ Marconi OSH (1480-1510) Monk of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Jerome (The Hieronymites). St Modestus of Trier St Peter the Librarian St Praetextatus of Rouen St Primitiva St Sergius of Caesarea Bl Simon of Saint Bertin
Thought for the Day – 23 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Order of the Day
“Once we have decided on our manner of behaviour towards God, it is necessary to determine how we shall act in regard to our neighbour. We can have quite a number of unexpected matters to which we must attend during the day but normally, we have a good idea what kind of people we shall be dealing with.
There will be people who are an occasiuon of sin. We must try to avoid these but, if that is not possible, we must be on our guard and rely on the weapons of divine grace to protect us. There will be troublesome and annoying people with whom we must be patient and restrained. There will be people who are in want, either materally or spiritually, whom we must enlighten and assist. We shall meet difficulies and complicated problems to deal with which we must ask God for insight and prudence.
If we live in intimate union with Our Lord, we shall be competent to deal with all the business of the day, especially with the unexpected and even the shocking.”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church
“Let us detach ourselves in spirit from all that we see and cling to that which we believe. This is the Cross which we must imprint on all our daily actions and behaviour.”
“I scourge both flesh and spirit because I know that I have offended in both flesh and spirit.”
“May Christ be heard in our language, may Christ be seen in our life, may He be perceived in our hearts”
“Let us faithfully transmit to posterity, the example of virtue, which we have received, from our forefathers.”
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 23 February – Ash Thursday
“Blessed is the man who feareth the Lord, he shall delight exceedingly in His Commandments.” Psalm 111:1
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not be seen fasting by men …” Matthew 6:17-18.
ON FASTING 2 St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE SECOND CONDITION is never to fast through vanity but always through humility. If our fast is not performed with humility, it will not be pleasing to God. All our ancient Fathers have declared it so but particularly, St Thomas, St Anbrose and the great St Augustine. St Paul, in the epistle which he wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 3) … declares the conditions necessary for disposing ourselves to fast well during Lent. He says this to us: “Lent is approaching. Prepare yourselves to fast with charity, for if your fast is performed without it, it will be vain and useless, since fasting, like all other good works, is not pleasing to God unless it is done in charity and through charity. When you disciopline yourself, when you say long prayers, if you have not charity, all that is nothing. Even though you should work miracles, if you have not charity, they will not profit you at all. Indeed, even if you should suffer martyrdom, without charity, your martyrdom is worth nothing and would not be meritorious in the eys of the Divine Master. For all works, small or great, however good they may be in themselves, are of no value and profit us nothing, if they are not done in charity and through charity,”
I say the same now – if your fast is without humility it is worth nothing and cannot be pleasing to the Lord! … Now, according to the Apostle, all that is done without charity is not pleasing to God, so I say, in the same way with this great Saint, that if you fast without humility, your fast is of no value. For if you have not humility you have not charity and if you are without charity, you are also without humility. It is almost impossible to have charity without being humble and to be humble withou having charity. These two virtues have such an affinity with one another that the one can never be without the other!
But what is this fast through humility? It is never to fast through vanity. Now how can one fast through vanity? … To fast through vanity is to fast through self-will, since this self-will is not without vanity or, at least, not without a temptation to vanity. And what does it mean to fast through self-will. It is to fast as one wishes and not as others wish – to fast in the manner which pleases us and not as we are ordered or counselled.
Let each one of us examine our consciences and we will find that all that comes from ourselves, from our own judgement, choice and election, is esteemed and loved far better, than that which comes from another!” – (Excerpt from the Sermon given for Ash Wednesday on 9 February 1622).
One Minute Reflection – 23 February – Thursday after Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting – The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matthew 5:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.” – Matthew 5:14-15.
REFLECTION – “The Lord called His disciples, the salt of the earth because they seasoned with heavenly wisdom, the hearts of men, rendered insipid by the devil. Now He calls them the light of the world too because they have been enlightened by Him, the true and everlasting Light and have themselves become, a light in the darkness.
Since He is the Sun of Justice, He fittingly calls His disciples, the light of the world. The reason for this, is that through them, as through shining rays, He has poured out the Light of the knowledge of Himself, upon the entire world. For by manifesting the Light of Truth, they have dispelled the darkness of error from the hearts of men.
Moreover, we too have been enlightened by them. We have been made light out of darkness as the Apostle says: “For once you were darkness but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” He says another time: “For you are not sons of the night and of darkness but you are all sons of light and of the day.”
Saint John also rightly asserts in his letter: “God is Light and whoever abides in God is in the light just as God Himself is in the light.” Therefore because we rejoice in having been freed from the darkness of error, we should always walk in the light as children of light. This is why the Apostle says: “Among them you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.”
If we fail to live in the light, we shall, to our condemnation and that of others, be veiling over and obscuring by our infidelity, the light men so desperately need. As we know from Scripture, the man who received the talent should have made it produce a heavenly profit but instead, he preferred to hide it away rather than put it to work and was punished as he deserved.
Consequently, that brilliant Lamp which was lit for the sake of our salvation should always shine in us. For we have the lamp of the heavenly commandment and spiritual grace, to which David referred: “Your law is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Solomon also says this about it: “For the command of the law is a lamp.”
Therefore, we must not hide this lamp of law and faith. Rather, we must set it up in the Church, as on a lampstand, for the salvation of many, so that we may enjoy the Light of Truth itself and all believers may be enlightened.” – St Chromatius of Aquileia (Died c 407) Bishop of Aquileia, Theologian, Exegete, Writer and friend of Saints Ambrose and Jerome, Defender of St John Chrysostom. (An excerpt from Treatise on the Gospel of Saint Matthew). St Chromatius’ life here:https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/02/saint-of-the-day-2-december-saint-chromatius-of-aquileia-died-c-407/
PRAYER – Grant us, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, to follow the counsel and examples of St. Peter, Thy Confessor and Bishop, so that by setting earthly goods at naught we may attain everlasting happiness. 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 – 23 February – Ash Thursday and The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church
Have Mercy, Lord By St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church
Have mercy, Lord, on all my friends and relatives, on all my benefactors, on all who pray to Thee for me and on all who have asked me to pray to Thee, for them. Give them the spirit of fruitful penance, mortify them in all vices and make them flower in all Thy virtues. Amen
Saint of the Day – 23 February – Saint Milburga (Died 715) Virgin, Prioress, Abbess, Miracle-worker. Born in the 7th Century England and died in 715 at the Much Wenlock Abbey, Shropshire, England of natural causes. Patronage – of birds. Also known as – Milburg, Milburge, Mildburg, Mildburga, Milburgh. Additional Memorial – 25 June (translation of relics).
Milburga lived when the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England were being converted to Christianity. Of royal birth, Milburga’s family was distinguished by its holiness. She was the daughter of King Merewald of Magonset and his wife, St Ermenburga (alias Aebbe of Minster-in-Thanet) and, therefore, sister of Sts Mildred and Milgitha.
Her father, Merewalh and Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury, founded a Monastery on the borders of Wales, under a French Abbess, Liobinde of Chelles. at Wenlock (in Shropshire) in about 670–80. Milburga became its second Abbess, governing a community – a so-called ‘dual house’ – of both Nuns and Monks, who worshipped in separate Churches and would also have had their own dormitories and refectories.
Milburga eventually succeeded Abbess Liobinde of Chellesher in this office. Shortly afterward, a neighbouring Prince attempted to compel her to become his wife and, with that intent, pursued her with an armed force. She fled across a river, which at once rose into an impassable flood and discouraged her pursuers.
Most of what we know about Milburga comes from a ‘Life,’ written in Latin by a Monk called Gocelin in the late 11th Century. It describes Milburga’s miracle-working powers, which included raising the dead. It also recounts how, through Milburga’s prayers, geese which were destroying the Abbey’s corn were banished, never to return. Because of this, Milburga is depicted in art as an Abbess accompanied by geese or other wild birds.
A poor widow came to her in her oratory, bringing the body of her little dead son. Throwing herself at the feet of the abbess, she besought her to raise the child to life. “You must be mad!” exclaimed Milburga, “How can I raise your child? Go and bury him and submit to the bereavement sent to you by God!”. “No,” said the sorrowing mother, “I will not leave you until you give me back my son!” The Abbess prayed over the little corpse and, while doing so, she suddenly appeared to the poor supplicant to be raised from the earth and surrounded by lovely flames – the living emblem of the fervour of her prayer. Within a few minutes, the child had recovered.
Unsurprisngly, Milburga was immediately regarded as a Saint after her death in 715. Her remains were buried in the Nuns’ Church at Wenlock. By the 11th Century, this had fallen into ruins and the location of Milburga’s grave forgotten.
The Ruins of St Milburga’s Priory at Wenlock, Shropshire
Between 1080–82, a community of Cluniac Monks settled at Wenlock, building their Church on the site of the former Anglo-Saxon one. Soon after 1100, boys playing amid the ruins of the ancient Nuns’ Church fell into a tomb where the bones of Milburga were rediscovered. Esteemed as holy Relics, these were solemnly enshrined in the Monks’new Church. Numerous miracles were attributed to them, including the healing of lepers and the curing of the blind.
The Cluniac Monastery at Wenlock was dedicated to St Milburga and St Michael, both of whom were depicted on the Priory’s seal. Feasts, or holy days, in honour of St Milburga are celebrated by the Monks on 23 February and 25 June.
St Milburga Patchwork Collage at St Milburga Parish, Shropshire
St Alexander Akimetes St Boswell St Dositheus of Egypt St Felix of Brescia St Florentius of Seville St Giovanni Theristi (1049–1129) Monk Bl John of Hungary
St Lazarus Zographos (c 810-c 867) Priest, Monk known as “the Painter and the Iconographer.” Lazarus lived before and during the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm. The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “St Lazarus, a Monk, whom the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus ordered to be put to torture for having painted holy images. His hand was burned with a hot iron but, being healed by the power of God, he painted anew the holy images which had been defaced and finally rested in peace.” Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-lazarus-zographos-810-865/
St Martha of Astorga St Medrald St Milburga (Died 715) Abbess Bl Milo of Benevento St Ordonius St Polycarp of Rome St Romana
St Serenus the Gardener (Died 307) Martyr. Serenus was by birth a Grecian. He left his family estate, friends and country to serve God in celibacy, penance and prayer. With this design he bought a garden in Sirmium in Pannonia, which he cultivated with his own hands and lived on the fruits and herbs it produced. His Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-serenus-the-gardener-died-307-martyr/
Martyrs of Syrmium – 73 Christians who were Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know no details about them, and only six of their names – Antigonus, Libius, Rogatianus, Rutilus, Senerotas and Syncrotas.
Thought for the Day – 22 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Early Hours of the Day
“If possible, it is desirable to begin the day by visiting Jesus. He is always in the Tabernacle, waiting patiently and lovingly for us to visit Him. Why could we not spend at least one half-hour with Him? There are twenty four hours in the day. Must we spend them in sleep, work, amusements and conversation without ever pausing to speak with Jesus?
What about Mass and Holy Communion? It is true that we are not obliged to go to Mass on weekdays, nor have we a strict obligation to receive Holy Communion, except during the Paschal period. But a genuine Catholic should not be satisfied with doing only what is commanded under pain of mortal sin. He should love Jesus so much that he will experience an urgent need of communication with Him. He should be ready to sacrifice a little of his early morning sleep, for the purpose of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion – if he is so blessed as to be near an early morning Mass. Never forget (and pray for them) that there are thousands, perhaps millions who are deprived of this great grace of living near a Church! There is no surer way of being able to resist the temptations of the day and of acquiring peace of spirit. The practice of daily Communion can transform a man’s life.”
Quote/s of the Day – 22 February – Ash Wednesday – Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:16-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… Behold, now is the acceptable time. behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6). And so, you must be more earnest in prayer and in alms-giving, in fasting and in watching. He that until now has given alms, in these days let him give more – for as water quencheth a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Eccles 3:3). He that, until now, fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more – for there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting (Mc 27:20).”
St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church
“He need not fear anything, nor be ashamed of anything, who bears the Sign of the Cross on his brow.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no-one try to separate them, they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them, or not all together, you have nothing! So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself.”
St Peter Chrysologus (400-450) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Fasting, when rightly practised, lifts the mind to God and mortifies the flesh. It makes virtue easy to attain and increases our merits.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
Ash Wednesday – 22 February – Our Lenten Journey Begins with St Francis de Sales – Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:16-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments and return to the Lord, your God.” Joel 2:12-13
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not be seen fasting by men …” Matthew 6:17-18.
ON FASTING 1 St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THESE FIRST FOUR DAYS of the holy season of Lent serve as a preface to indicate the preparation which we ought to make, in order to spend Lent well and to dispose ourselves to fast well. … It will be very helpful to state clearly, what must be done to fast well these forty days. … Now, among all the conditions required for fasting well, I will select three principal ones …
THE FIRST CONDITION is that we must fast with our whole heart, that is to say, willingly, whole-heartedly universally and entirely. If I recount St Bernard’s words regarding fasting, you will know, not only why it is instituted but also, how it ought to be kept.
He says that fasting was instituted by Our Lord, as a remedy for our mouth, for our gourmandising and for our gluttony. Since sin entered the world through the mouth, the mouth must do penance by being deprived of foods prohibited and forbidden by the Church, abstaining from them for the space of forty days. But this glorious Saint adds that, as it is not our mouth alone which has sinned but also all our other senses, our fast must be general, entire, that is, all the members of our body must fast. For if we have offended God through the eyes, through the ears, through the tongue and through our other senses, why should we not make them fast as well? And not only must we make the bodily senses fast but also the soul’s powers and passions – yes, even the understanding, the memory and the will, since we have sinned through both the body and spirit.” – (Excerpt from the Sermon given for Ash Wednesday on 9 February 1622).
One Minute Reflection – 22 February – Ash Wednesday – Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:16-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“But you, when you fast…” – Matthew 6:17..
REFLECTION – “My dear brethren, today we set out on the great Lenten journey. So let us take our food and drink along in our boat, putting into the chest, the abundant mercy we shall need. For our fasting is a hungry one, our fasting is a thirsty one, if it is not sustained by goodness and refreshed by mercy. Our fasting will be cold, our fasting will flag, if the fleece of almsgiving does not clothe it, if the garment of compassion, does not wrap it around.
Brethren, what Spring is for the land, mercy is for fasting – the soft, Spring winds, cause all the buds on the plains to flower – the mercy of our fast causes all our seeds to grow until they blossom and bear fruit, for the heavenly harvest. What oil is to the lamp, goodness is to our fast. As the oily fat sets the lamp alight and, in spite of so little to feed it, keeps it burning, to our comfort, all night long, so goodness makes our fasting shine: it casts its beams until it reaches the full brightness of self-restraint. What the sun is to the day, almsgiving is to our fast – the sun’s splendour increases the light of day, breaking through the dullness of the clouds – almsgiving, together with fasting, sanctifies its holiness and, thanks to the light of goodness, dispels from our desires anything that could petrify.
In short, what the body is for the soul, generosity acts similarly for the fast: when the soul leaves the body it brings about death; if generosity abandons the fast, it is, its death!” – St Peter Chrysologus (400-450) Bishop of Ravenna, “Doctor of Sermons” Father and Doctor of the Church (From Sermon 8).
PRAYER – Grant, O Lord, that Thy faithful people may, with true piety, undertake the time-honoured custom of fasting and may carry it out with unwavering devotion. 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).
Saint of the Day – 22 February – Saint Maximian of Ravenna (499-556) Archbishop of Ravenna, Italy, completor of the immensely renowned Basilica of St Vitalis and many more Churches. He was a man of creative talents who ordered the creation of many renowned and very beautiful artworks of various types, for his See, as well as, a great lover of Books and literature, ensuring the acquisition of many illuminated manuscripts. Maximian may have been the first Latin Bishop to use the title ‘Archbishop.’ Born in 499 in Pola, Istria (modern Pula, Croatia) and died at Ravenna, Italy in 556 of natural causes. Also known as – Maximianus.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Ravenna in Emilia, Saint Maximian, a Bishop, who faithfully fulfilled his pastoral office, fought against heretics and beautified the buildings of his See.”
Born in the Istrian City of Pula (Croatia), Maximian was Consecrated Bishop of Ravenna in 546 by Pope Vigilius in Patras, Greece. Maximianus was a forty-eight year old Deacon when he became the twenty sixth Bishop of Ravenna.
According to the ninth Century Ravennate Priest, Andreas Agnellus, Maximian’s flock initially refused his leadership because he was selected by the Emperor Justinian and was not their initial candidate.
He completed the renowned Basilica of St Vitalis in Ravenna and also built St Apollinare in Classe and several other Churches.
St Vitalis Basilica
Maximian devoted himself too, to the updating of Liturgical books and to the authoritative corrections of the Latin text of Sacred Scriptures and commissioned a large number of illuminated manuscripts.
For the High Altar at Ravenna, he had a hanging made of the most costly cloth, which was embroidered with a portrayal of the entire life of Jesus. In another hanging he had portraits of all his predecessors embroidered on gold ground.
Maximian’s most remarkable Episcopal furnishing is the Bishop’s Cathedra, now known as the Throne of Maximian. The Cathedra is constructed entirely of ivory panels. It was probably carved in Constantinople and shipped to Ravenna. It consists of decorative floral panels framing various figured panels, including one with the complex monogram of the Bishop.
In the world famous Mosaic at Ravenna, Saint Maximian (named above the figure) is shown leading a procession with Emperor Justinian. The Saint holds a Cross and wears a chasuble and stole.
We have no firm knowledge of where St Maximian’s Relics lie but presume they are in St Vitalis Basilica. There is another Church dedicated to him in Ravenna.
Emperor Justinian and his retinue, St Maximian on his left.
St Maximian of Ravenna (499-556) Bishop Bl Mohammed Abdalla St Papias of Heirapolis St Paschasius of Vienne St Raynerius of Beaulieu St Thalassius
Martyrs of Arabia – A memorial for all the unnamed Christians Martyred in the desert and mountainous areas south of the Dead Sea during the persecutions of Emperor Valerius Maximianus Galerius.
Lenten Preparation Novena in Reparation to the Holy Face Day Nine
“All those who, attracted by My Love and venerating My Countenance, shall receive, by virtue of My Humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of My Divinity. This splendour shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features, with My Divine Countenance.” … Our Lord Jesus Christ to St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
(Console the Holy Face
and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) below.
DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER
O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the Passion of her Divine Son, we ask Thy help, in making a perfect Novena of Reparation with Jesus, united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment. We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
THE NINTH DAY Psalm 50:18-19: For in sacrifice Thou take no delight, burnt offering Thou wouldst refuse. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit, a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Sacred Face of our Lord and our God, what words can we say to express our gratitude? How can we speak of our joy? That Thou hast deigned to hear us, that Thou hast chosen to answer us in our hour of need. We say this because we know, that our prayers will be granted. We know that Thou, in Thy loving kindness, listen to our pleading hearts and will give, out of Thy fullness, the answer to our prayers.
Mary, our Mother, thank you for your intercession on our behalf. Saint Joseph, thank you for your prayers.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition……………… Pardon and mercy. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Face By St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (1873-1897)
O Jesus, Who, in Thy cruel Passion didst become, the ‘reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows,’ I worship Thy divine Face. Once it shone with the beauty and sweetness of the Divinity but now, for my sake, it is become as ‘the face of a leper.’ Yet, in that disfigured Countenance, I recognise Thy infinite love and I am consumed with the desire of making Thee loved by all mankind. The tears that flowed so abundantly from Thy Eyes are, to me, as precious pearls which I delight to gather, that with their worth, I may ransom the souls of poor sinners. O Jesus, Whose Face is the sole beauty which ravishes my heart, I may not see, here below, the sweetness of Thy glance, nor feel the ineffable tenderness of Thy kiss, I bow to Thy Will—but I pray Thee, to imprint in me, Thy divine likeness and I implore Thee, so to inflame me with Thy love, that it may quickly consume me and that I may soon reach the vision of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every Adoration Thine (Three times)
Thought for the Day – 21 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Lord, That I May See!
“The restlessness and intensity of living, make us see things as differently from what they really are. But one day, the veil of the temple will be rent asunder before our frightened eyes and eternal Light will break upon us. Then, we shall be blind no longer but, we shall see everything in the Light of eternity.
Let us place ourselves now, in the state in which we should like to find ourselves at that moment. Let us consider ourselves and everything else, in the Light of eternity. Then our blindness will disappear. Since we shall see everything in God’s way, we shall direct all our thoughts and actions toward Him alone!”
Quote/s of the Day – 21 February – Feast of the Holy Face
As part of the preparations for Lent, it is appropriate to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Face by spending some time before the Blessed Sacrament and reciting the prayers of reparation. In addition, the repetition of this Devotion each Tuesday in Lent maybe a means of drawing closer to Our Lord during this time of more intense prayer and conversion.
TAKEN FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SR MARY OF ST PETER OCD (1816-1848).
“Do you see how I suffer? Yet, very few understand Me. Those who say they love Me are very ungrateful! I have given My Heart as the sensible object of My great love to men and I give My Face as the sensible object of My sorrow for all the sins of men. I wish that it be venerated by a special Feast on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. I wish that the Feast be preceded by a Novena in which the faithful make reparation with Me, joining together and sharing in My sorrow.”
Offering of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in Reparation to God the Father
Eternal Father, turn away Thy angry gaze from Thou guilty people whose face has become unsightly in Thy eyes. Look instead upon the Face of Thy beloved Son, in Whom Thou art well pleased. We now offer Thee, this Holy Face, covered with shame and disfigured by bloody wounds, in reparation for the crimes of our age, in order to appease Thy anger, justly provoked against us. Because, Thy Divine Son, our Redeemer, hast taken upon His Head all the sins of His members that they might be spared, we now beg Thee, Eternal Father, to grant us mercy. Amen.
An Aspiration to the Eternal Father to be Frequently Recited During the Day …
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Holy Face of Jesus, covered with blood, sweat, dust and spittle, in reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
The Eight Promises of Jesus To Those Who Honour His Holy Face
All those who honour My Face in a spirit of reparation, will by so doing, perform the office of the pious Veronica. According to the care they take in making reparation to My Face, disfigured by blasphemers, so will I take care of their souls which have been disfigured by sin. My Face is the seal of the Divinity, which has the virtue of reproducing in souls, the image of God.
Those, who by words, prayers or writing, defend My cause in this Work of Reparation, I will defend before My Father and will give them My Kingdom.
By offering My Face to My Eternal Father, nothing will be refused and the conversion of many sinners will be obtained.
By My Holy Face, they will work wonders, appease the anger of God and draw down mercy on sinners.
As in a kingdom, they can procure all that is desired with a coin stamped with the King’s effigy, so, in the Kingdom of Heaven, they will obtain all they desire, with the precious coin of My Holy Face.
Those who, on earth, contemplate the wounds of My Face shall, in Heaven, behold it radiant with glory.
They will receive in their souls, a bright and constant irradiation of My Divinity, that by their likeness to My Face, they shall shine with particular splendour in Heaven.
I will defend them, I will preserve them and I assure them of Final Perseverance.
One Minute Reflection – 21 February – Quinguasema Feria Day – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And at once, he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God.” – Luke 18:43
REFLECTION – “The commandment of the Lord shines clearly, enlightening the eyes. Receive Christ, receive power to see, receive your Light, that you may plainly recognise both God and man. More delightful than gold and precious stones, more desirable than honey and the honeycomb is the Word that has enlightened us. How could He not be desirable, Who illumined minds buried in darkness and endowed, with clear vision “the light-bearing eyes” of the soul? Sing His praises, then, Lord and make known to me Your Father, Who is God. Your Word will save me, Your song instruct me. I have gone astray in my search for God but now that You light my path, Lord, I find God through You and receive the Father from You, I become co-heir with You, since You were not ashamed to own me as Your brother. Let us, then, shake off forgetfulness of Truth, shake off the mist of ignorance and darkness that dims our eyes and contemplate the true God, after first raising this song of praise to Him: “All hail, O light!” For upon us, buried in darkness, imprisoned in the shadow of death, a heavenly Light has shone, a Light of a clarity surpassing the sun’s and of a sweetness, exceeding any this earthly life can offer.” – St Clement of Alexandria (c150-c215) Theologian, Philosopher , Father (Exhortation to the Greeks, 11).
PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully hear our prayers; loose us from the chains of our sins and keep us from all adversity. 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 – 21 February – Feast of the Holy Face
The Golden Arrow
May the Most Holy, Most Sacred, Most Adorable, Most Mysterious and Unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven. on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen
This prayer was revealed by Jesus Himself to a Carmelite Nun of Tours in 1843 as a reparation for blasphemy. “This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully” He said “and heal the wounds, inflicted by blasphemy.”
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