One Minute Reflection – 27 February – Quinquagesima Sunday – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Luke 18:39
REFLECTION – “My friend, you have learned that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you, if that is what you want and that every blessing of eternity lies within your hands. So make haste to see, grasp and win these blessings stored up for you… Call to God; bow down before Him.
Like the blind man of old, you, too, should say: “Have pity on me, Son of God and open the eyes of my soul, that I may see that Light of the world which You Are, O my God and may become, likewise, a child of that Divine Light. O good and generous One: send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, even on me to teach me all about You, all about what is Yours, God of the universe. Dwell also in me, as you have said that I, in my turn, may become worthy of dwelling in You. Make me know how to enter into You and know, that I possess You within me. O Thou, Invisible One, deign to take shape in me, that, seeing Your inaccessible Beauty, I may bear Your image, O You Who dwell in the heavens and may I forget all visible things. Grant to me, the glory the Father has given to You, O merciful One, so that, resembling You as all Your servants do, I may share in Your Divine Life, by grace and may constantly remain with You, now and always, forever and ever!” – St Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022) Greek Monk (Ethics 5).
PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech You, 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 – 27 February – Quinquagesima Sunday
O Christ, our Master and our God By St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
O Christ, our Master and God, King of the ages and Creator of all, I thank You for all the good things that You have given to me and for the reception of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries. I pray You, therefore, O good Lover of mankind, keep me under Your protection in the shadow of Your wings. Grant that with a pure conscience, until my last breath, I may worthily partake of Your Holy Things, for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting. For You are the Bread of Life, the Fountain of holiness and the Bestower of blessings and to You, we give glory together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now nad forever and ever. Amen
Saint of the Day – 27 February – Blessed Mark Barkworth OSB (c 1572–1601) Priest Martyr. Born in c 1572 in Lincolnshire, England and died by being hung, drawn and quartered on 27 February 1601 at Tyburn, London, England. Also known as – George Barkworthand Mark Lambert. Additional Memorials – 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai, 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University.
Mark was born around 1572 at Searby, Lincolnshire and was raised as a Protestant. He studied for a time at Oxford and was received into the Catholic Church at Douai in 1593, by Father George, a Flemish Jesuit and entered the College there with a view to the Priesthood. He matriculated at Douai University on 5 October 1594
Due to an outbreak of the Plague in France, Mark was sent to Rome and thence to the Royal College of St Alban in Valladolid, Spain, to complete his studies. On 28 December 1596, he he entered the English College in Spain.
On his way to Spain, Mark had a vision of St Benedict, who told him he would die a Martyr, in the Benedictine habit. While at Valladolid, he made contact with the Benedictine Order.
He was Ordained Priest at the English College some time before July 1599, whereafter, he set out for the English Mission, to assist and support the recusant Catholics there (from the Latin recusare (to refuse), was the state of those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to swear allegiance to the Queen as the head of the protestant church), together with Father Thomas Garnet. On his way he stayed at the Benedictine Monastery of Hyrache in Navarre, where his wish to join the Order was granted, by his being made an Oblate with the privilege of making profession at the hour of death.
After having escaped from the hands of the Huguenots of La Rochelle, he was arrested on reaching England and thrown into Newgate Prison. At this time, it was considered treason to be a Catholic Priest in England. He was imprisoned for six months and was then transferred to Bridewell Palace being used as a Prison. There, he wrote an appeal to Robert Cecil, a Member of Parliament and signed it “George Barkworth” but it seems, to no avail.
“Joy in the Lord because the victory won by Christ’s Confessors predominates over earthly sorrow at the grievousness of their suffering.” – William Cardinal Allen, Founder of Douai College.
Mark, described as always cheerful and brave, showed his fearlessness at his legal enquiries, where he was reported to behave with joy, fearlessness and frank gaiety. Having been condemned by a formal jury verdict, he was thrown into “Limbo,” the horrible underground dungeon at Newgate, where he is said to have remained “very cheerful,” encouraging and praying with those in the prison. He remain joyful, no matter what horrors he encountered even unto death.
Mark was executed at Tyburn with the Jesuit Priest, Blessed Father Roger Filcock and Saint Anne Line (a lay Widow who sheltered and hid Priests and assisted fellow Recusants), on 27 February 1601.
He sang, on the way to Tyburn, the Paschal Anthem: “Hæc dies, quam fecit Dominus, exultemus et lætemur in ea” – “This is the day, the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” On his arrival, he kissed the robe of St Anne, who was already dead, saying: “Ah, sister, thou hast got the start of us but we will follow thee as quickly as we may” and told the people watching, that Pope St Gregory the Great had sent the Benedictine Monks to evangelise England, saying “I am come here to die, being a Catholic, a Priest and a religious man, belonging to the Order of St Benedict – it was by this same Order, that England was converted.”
Mark was said to be “a man of stature, tall and well proportioned, showing strength. The hair of his head brown, his beard yellow, somewhat heavy eyed.” He suffered in the Benedictine Habit, under which he wore a hair-shirt. It was noticed that his knees were, like St James’ – hardened by constant kneeling and an apprentice in the crowd, picking up his legs, after the quartering, called out: “Which of you Gospellers can show such a knee?!” Contrary to usual practice, the quarters of the Priests were not exposed but buried near the scaffold.
Mark was Beatified by Pope Pius XI on 15 December 1929.
The Painting above is in Ushaw College, County Durham, England (a former Seminary which, since Vatican II, was another Seminary which shut its doors, one of the many hundreds) and commemorates the Catholic Martyrs of the English Reformation. Among them, shown on the right panel, are the Seminary Priests of Douai College who were Martyred between 1577 and 1680. Some 158 in total were killed by the State during that period for daring to minister to Catholics or harbour Priests.
“Joy in the Lord because the victory won by Christ’s Confessors predominates over earthly sorrow at the grievousness of their suffering.” – William Cardinal Allen, Founder of Douai College.
The period of fifty days before Easter. It begins with the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, called Dominica in Quinquagesima or Esto Mihi from the beginning of the Introit of the Mass; it is a Sunday of the second class, and the colour the Mass and Office is violet. For many early Christians Quinquagesima marked the time after which meat was forbidden. In many places, this Sunday and the next two days, were used to prepare for Lent by a good Confession; hence in England, we find the names Shrove Sunday and Shrovetide. Shrove is a form of the English word “shrive,” which means – to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of Confession and doing penance.. As the days before Lent were frequently spent in merry-making, Pope Benedict XIV by the Constitution “Inter Cetera” (1 January 1748) introduced a Forty Hours’ Devotion to keep the faithful from dangerous amusements and to make some reparation for sins committed. Quinquagesima also means, the time between Easter and Pentecost, or from the Saturday after Easter to the Sunday after Pentecost; it is then called Quinquagesima Paschae paschalis, or laetitae.
St Abundius of Rome St Alexander of Rome St Alnoth St Anne Line St Antigonus of Rome St Baldomerus of Saint Just St Basilios of Constantinople St Comgan St Emmanuel of Cremona St Fortunatus of Rome St Herefrith of Lindsey St Honorina St John of Gorze Bl Josep Tous Soler St Luke of Messina Bl Maria Caridad Brader Blessed Mark Barkworth OSB (c 1572–1601) Priest Martyr St Procopius of Decapolis Bl Roger Filcock St Thalilaeus Bl William Richardson
Martyrs of Alexandria: – Besas of Alexandria Cronion Eunus Julian of Alexandria
Lenten Preparation Novena in Reparation to the Holy Face Day Seven
“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)
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 Your 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 Spirit. Amen
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
DAY SEVEN Psalm 51,14-15: Give me again the joy of your help, with a spirit of fervour sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you.
Lord Jesus! After contemplating Thy features, disfigured by grief pain, after meditating upon Thy Passion with compunction and love, how can our hearts fail to be inflamed with a holy hatred of sin, which even now, outrages Thy Adorable Face! Lord, suffer us not to be content with mere compassion but grant us grace to closely follow Thee in this Calvary, so that the opprobrium destined for Thee may fall on us, 0 Jesus, that thus, we may have a share, small though it may be, in expiation of sin. Amen
Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Saint Joseph pray for us. Through the merits of Your Precious Blood and Your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition ……………… Pardon and mercy. Amen
Hail Mary, Queen of Our Hearts, Our Mother Prayer in Honour of Mary By St Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)
Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father! Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son! Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit! Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail Mary, our mistress, our wealth, our mystic rose. Queen of our hearts, our Mother, our life, our sweetness and our dearest hope! We are all Thine and all we have is thine. O Virgin, blessed above all things, may thy soul be in us, to magnify the Lord, may thy spirit be in us, to rejoice in God. Place thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon our hearts, that in thee and through thee, we may be found faithful to God. Grant, most gracious Virgin, that we may be numbered among those, whom thou art pleased to love, to teach and to guide, to favour and to protect, as thy children. Grant that with the help of thy love, we may despise all earthly consolations and cling to heavenly things, until through the Holy Spirit, thy faithful spouse and through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, be formed within us for the glory of the Father. 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 – 26 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Visits to the Blessed Sacrament
“After the many plans and worries of the day, it is wonderful to visit a Church in the evening and kneel before the Blessed Sacrament. There we can adore Jesus and converse lovingly with Him. We have spent so many hours surrounded by the noise of the world. It is restful now to spend a quarter of an hour in silent prayer before Jesus, the Prisoner of Love, in the Tabernacle. It is He, Who invites us. “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). There are so many matters worrying us. We need some words of advice, which will clear our doubts and strengthen us in suffering. We need words of encouragement to banish our sadness and enliven our faith. We need words of love, which will light, in our hearts, the flame of love for God. We can find all this on our knees before the Tabernacle. Do not end the day, without seeking a renewal of Christian strength, at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, if at all possible.”
Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Mary’s Saturday
“Pray, pray a great deal and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to Hell because they have no-one to make sacrifices and pray for them.”
Our Lady of Fatima 1917 13 May to 13 October 1917
“O sinner, be not discouraged but have recourse to Mary, in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity.”
St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
“O Mary, I have not doubt that whenever we run to you, we shall obtain all that we desire. Let those then who have no hope, hope in you!”
“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favour, you shall reach the goal.”
St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
“It seems unbelievable that a man should perish in whose favour Christ said to His Mother: ‘Behold thy son’, provided that he has not turned a deaf ear to the words, which Christ addressed to him: ‘Behold thy Mother.’”
St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) Doctor of the Church
“Never do anything that your heart tells you, is displeasing to Mary and, in addition, never deny her anything that you know she would welcome and desire from you.”
St Joseph Cafasso (1811-1860)
“It would be hard to find a more touching plea. We ask our heavenly Mother to intercede for us now because we have such great need of her assistance in this vale of tears and temptations. May she be always by our side, to shelter us beneath her mantle”
One Minute Reflection – 26 February – Hail Holy Mother! – Sirach 24:14-16, Luke 11:27-28
“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28
REFLECTION – “If you say, “Show me your God,” I will say to you, “Show me what kind of person you are and I will show you my God.” Show me then whether the eyes of your mind, can see and the ears of your heart, hear.
It is like this. Those who can see with the eyes of their bodies, are aware of what is happening in this life on earth. They get to know things that are different from each other. They distinguish light and darkness, black and white, ugliness and beauty, elegance and inelegance, proportion and lack of proportion, excess and defect. The same is true of the sounds we hear: high or low or pleasant. So it is with the ears of our heart and the eyes of our mind, in their capacity to hear or see God.
God is seen by those who have the capacity to see Him, provided that they keep the eyes of their mind open. All have eyes, but some have eyes that are shrouded in darkness, unable to see the Light of the Sun. Because the blind cannot see it, it does not follow that the sun does not shine. The blind must trace the cause back to themselves and their eyes . In the same way, you have eyes in your mind that are shrouded in darkness because of your sins and evil deeds. …
But if you will, you can be healed. Hand yourself over to the Doctor, and He will open the eyes and ears of your mind and heart. Who is to be the Doctor? It is God, Who heals and gives life through His Word and Wisdom. … ” – St Theophilus of Antioch (Died c 185) Bishop of Antioch, Confessor, Apologist, Father (An excerpt from: A Book addressed to Autolycus).
PRAYER – Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal 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 – 26 February – Mary’s Saturday
Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we unite ourselves to thee under thy title of Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this medal be, for each one of us, a sure sign of thy motherly affection for us and a constant reminder of our filial duties towards thee. While wearing it, may we be blessed by thy loving protection and preserved in the grace of thy Son. Most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Saviour, keep us close to thee, every moment of our lives so that like thee, we may live and act according to the teaching and example of thy Son. Obtain for us, thy children, the grace of a happy death, so that in union with thee we may enjoy the happiness of heaven forever. Amen O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Saint of the Day – 26 February – St Alexander of Alexandria (Died c 326) Bishop of Alexandria, Confessor, Defender of the True Faith against heresies, in particular the Arians. Born in the 3rd Century in northern Egypt and died on 26 February c 326 at Alexandria, Egypt. Also known as – Alessandro di Alessandria.
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Alexandria, the Bishop St Alexander, an aged man held in great honour who was a successor of the blessed Peter as Bishop of the City. He expelled from the Church, Arius, one of his Priests, tainted with heretical impiety and convicted by Divine Truth and, subsequently, was one of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers, who condemned him at the Council of Nicea.”
He was a man of apostolic doctrine and life, mild, affable, exceedingly charitable to the poor and full of faith, zeal and fervour.
St Alexander was made Bishop of Alexandria in 313. He was a disciple of the previous Bishop St Peter the Martyr and had heard the warnings the great Bishop made in prison about the Deacon Arius. Alexander led an untiring battle against this heretic, preparing the way for St Athanasius.
Arius was a tall man of a grave imposing appearance. He attracted confidence by his amiable manner and agreeable conversation. He lived austerely, assumed a penitent air and showed an apparent zeal for religion. With a broad but superficial knowledge of profane literature and the ecclesiastical sciences, he was a subtle and persuasive dialectician. However, under this exterior show of virtue was a man of melancholy, turbulence, ambition and a taste for novelties. After he was Ordained Priest and charged with teaching Scriptures, he could not contain his vanity and titled himself illustrious. After the death of St Achillas, Bishop of Alexandria, Arius aspired to his See. When Alexander was chosen, Arius became his enemy. It was about this time that Arius began to teach his bad doctrine and recruit followers.
Alexander, concerned about the spreading of this heresy and finding Arius obstinate and incorrigible, excommunicated him from the Diocese of Alexandria. The heretic went to Palestine where he received the support of various Bishops, especially Eusebius of Nicomedia. There he began a campaign of intrigues against his adversaries.
The Council of Nicea in 325 condemned Arius and his doctrines. In that famous assembly of Bishops, one of the high luminaries was our Saint, Alexander. St Athanasius, who had accompanied Alexander, was also present as a Deacon. Alexander returned to Alexandria, where he died several years later, after naming St Athanasius as his successor. Having dedicated his life to gloriously fighting in defence of the Church, he delivered his soul to the Lord in c 326.
Lenten Preparation Novena in Reparation to the Holy Face Day Six
“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)
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 Your 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 Spirit. Amen
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
DAY SIX Psalm 51,12-13: A pure heart create for us O God, put a steadfast spirit within us. Do not cast us away from your presence nor deprive us of your Holy Spirit.
May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the in-pouring of the Holy Spirit and may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew. Mary, the most chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit, intercede for us, Saint Joseph pray for us. Through the merits of Your Precious Blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition ……………… Pardon and mercy. Amen
O Victorious Prince, Guardian of the Church of God By St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591) Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
O Victorious Prince, most humble guardian of the Church of God and of faithful souls, who, with such charity and zeal, took part in so many conflicts and gained such great victories over the enemy, for the conservation and protection of the honour and glory, we all owe to God, as well as for the promotion of our salvation. Come, we pray Thee, to our assistance, for we are continually besieged with such great perils by our enemies, the flesh, the world and the devil and as Thou wast a leader for the people of God, through the desert, so also be our faithful leader and companion through the desert of this world, until Thou conduct us safely, into the happy land of the living, in that blessed fatherland from which we are all exiles. 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 – 25 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Fervour and Tepidity
“The ONLY choice in the life of a Catholic is between fervour and sin! The tepid or negligent soul cannot remain long in the grace of God and, when God’s grace is removed, it means the death of the soul.
The spiritual life resembles a steep hill. A man cannot stay still. He must keep going upwards or begin to slip downwards. Whoever struggles on, up the hill is approaching perfection and Heaven; whoever slips backwards, is approaching sin, a dead soul and Hell.
There us NO MIDDLE WAY! Those who are lukewarm are an object of DISGUST to their Creator, Who casts them away from Himself – “Because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot,” the Holy Spirit says, “I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth” (Apoc 3:16).
So, it is not enough to be mediocre Catholic. The half-hearted and indifferent are already travelling along the slippery path of sin and are on the waiting list for hell! It is dangerous for anyone to remain thoughtlessly in this state of spiritude ineptitude. A man who never thinks of his own salvation, is suffering from a serious illness. He is running a very great risk of eternal damnation. He has one foot in Hell here on this earth!”
Quote/s of the Day – 25 February – Sexagesima Weekday – 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9, Luke 8:4-15
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
John 1:1
“And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John 1:14
“Let the world be in upheaval. I hold to His Promise and read His Message, that is my protecting wall and garrison. What Message? “Know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church
“What a happy day they spent! What a blessed night! Who can say what it was they heard from the Lord’s mouth? Let us, too, build a dwelling in our hearts, construct a house where Christ can come to teach and converse with us.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church
“My child, it is indeed the Voice of God you have heard. He has given you a great grace in thus calling you into His one true Church. While you live, never cease to thank Him and bless Him for it.”
St John Francis Régis (1597-1640)
Beloved and Most Holy Word of God By St James of the Marches (1391-1476)
Beloved and most holy Word of God! You enlighten the hearts of the faithful, You satisfy the hungry, console the afflicted. You make the souls of all, productive of good and cause all virtues to blossom. You snatch souls from the devil’s jaw. You make the wretched holy and men of earth, citizens of heaven! Amen
One Minute Reflection – 25 February – Sexagesima Weekday – 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9, Luke 8:4-15
“But that upon good ground, these are they, who, with a right and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bear fruit in patience.” – Luke 8:15
REFLECTION – “Sow in good season and gather together and open your barns when it is the time to do so and plant in season and let the clusters be cut when they are ripe and launch boldly in spring and draw your ship on shore again at the beginning of winter, when the sea begins to rage. … But the work of your salvation is one’ upon which’ you should be engaged at all times …. If you are always passing over today and waiting for tomorrow, by your little procrastinations, you will be cheated without knowing it, by the evil one, as his manner is. Give to me, he says, the present and to God the future; to me your youth and to God old age; to me your pleasures and to Him your uselessness. How great is the danger that surrounds you. How many the unexpected mischances. War has expended you, or an earthquake overwhelmed you, or the sea swallowed you up. Or a wild beast carried you off, or a sickness killed you, or a crumb going the wrong way (a most insignificant thing but what is easier, than for a man to die, though you are so proud of the divine image), or a too freely indulged drinking bout. Or a wind knocked you down, or a horse ran away with you, or a drug maliciously scheming against you, or perhaps, was found to be deleterious when meant to be wholesome. Or [there was] an inhuman judge, or an inexorable executioner, or any of the things which make the change swiftest and beyond the power of human aid.
But, if you would fortify yourself beforehand, with the seal and secure yourself for the future with the best and strongest of all aids, being signed both in body and in soul with the unction … what then can happen to you and what has been wrought out for you? Listen to the Proverbs: “If you sit,” he says, “you shall be without fear; and if you sleep, your sleep shall be sweet.” And listen to David giving you the good news: “you shall not be afraid for the terror by night, for mischance or noonday demon.” Thus, even while you live, will greatly contribute to your sense of safety (for a sheep that is sealed is not easily snared but that which is unmarked’ is an easy prey to thieves) …” – St Gregory Naziazen (330-390) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Theological Oration 40, On Holy Baptism)
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PRAYER – All-powerful, eternal God, splendour of true light and never-ending day, turn our ears and hearts to Your Word, that we may hear and live by the seed You have sown. May all that grows in us be of Your good seed and yield fruit a hundredfold. Grant us the grace of imitating the virtues of Mary, the Mother of Your only-begotten Son and our Mother and may her prayers intercede on our behalf. May we may be filled with courage and love and spread Your Word by our lives. We make our prayer through Jesus, our Lord and Word, with the Holy Spirit, one God with You, forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 25 February – Sexagesima Weekday
May I Be United With You, Good Jesus By St Peter Canisius (1521-1597) Doctor of the Church
Let my eyes take their sleep but may my heart always keep watch for You. May Your right hand bless Your servants who love You. May I be united with the praise that flows from You, Lord Jesus, to all Your saints; united with the gratitude drawn from Your Heart, good Jesus, that causes Your saints to thank You; united with Your Passion, good Jesus, by which You took away our guilt; united with the divine longing that You had on earth, for our salvation; united with every prayer that welled from Your divine Heart, good Jesus and flowed into the hearts of Your saints. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 25 February – Blessed Avertano of Lucca O.Carm ( 1320-c 1366 ) Lay Brother of the Order of Carmel, miracle-worker, Avertano had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. Born in c 1320 in the Diocese of Limoges, France and died in c 1380 ub Lucca, Tuscany, Italy of the Plague. Also known as – Aventanus. Additional Memorial – 4 March (Carmelites).
Avertano was born in Limoges, France in the 12th Century. In his youth, Avertano had resolved to live a life closest to the teachings of the Gospel. The desire for holiness was always in his mind and soul.
Thus, when Avertano witnessed the exemplary way of life of the Carmelites, who had just returned from the East to their homeland, he expressed his intention of joining the Order. It did not take long for him to become a Carmelite.
Wherever he was assigned, Avertano was a model of virtue. Many, who came in contact with him, were edified by his reputation for and examples of holiness. He was also known as a miracle-worker who was blessed with many mystical gifts.
He desired to visit the Land of our Saviour but on his way home from his travels, he died of the Plague in c 1366. So many miracles were reported at his grave in the Church of San Pietro, that a series of paintings depicting some of them, were created for the San Pietro Church and the Cathedral of Lucca but then enshrined in the Church of Sts Paolino and Donato in 1806. He was Beatified in 1828 by Pope Gregory XVI,
St Adelelmo of Engelberg St Aldetrudis St Ananias of Phoenicia Blessed Avertano of Lucca O.Carm ( 1320-1380 ) St Caesarius of Nanzianzen St Callistus Caravario Bl Ciriaco Maria Sancha Hervas Bl Didacus Yuki Ryosetsu St Domenico Lentini 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 Laurentius Bai Xiaoman St Luigi Versiglia
Martyrs of Egypt – A group of 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
Lenten Preparation Novena in Reparation to the Holy Face Day Five
“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)
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 Your 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 Spirit. Amen
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,10-11: Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your Face and blot out all my guilt.
Holy Face of Jesus, Sacred Countenance of God, how great is Your patience with humankind, how infinite Your forgiveness. We are sinners, yet You love us. This gives us courage. For the glory of Your Holy Face and of the Blessed Trinity, hear and answer us. Mary our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us. Through the merits of Your Precious Blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition ……………… Pardon and mercy. Amen
Prayer to Saint Joseph – Adopt Us a Thy Children
Dear Saint Joseph! Adopt us as thy children, take charge of our salvation; watch over us day and night, preserve us from occasions of sin, obtain for us purity of body and soul and the spirit of prayer, through thy intercession with Jesus, grant us a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial, obtain for us a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and a sweet, tender love for Mary, our Mother. Saint Joseph, be with us in life, be with us in death and obtain for us a favourable judgement from Jesus, our merciful Saviour. 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 – 24 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Avarice and Ambition
“Although the Gospel stresses so much, the necessity of being detached from the things of the world and of striving after the things of Heaven, it is a sad fact, that from the early days of the Church up to the present time, greed for money and desire for honour, have always been there to do great harm to the faithful. In his first letter St Peter exhorted Priests to guide and look after their flocks “not for the sake of base gain but eagerly; not yet as lording it over your charges but becoming, from the heart, a pattern to the flock.”(1 Peter 5:3). He went onto urge the faithful to be humble, obedient and detached from the desires of the world. He told them to entrust their cares to God, their Protector.
Let us examine how well we follow this counsel and resolve to correct any deficiencies in our behaviour.”
Quote/s of the Day – 24 February – Feast of St Matthias, Apostle and Martyr – Acts 1:15-26, Matthew 11:25-30
“You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide”
John 15:16
“They spoke with such confidence because someone had to be appointed. They did not say “choose” but “make known to us” the chosen one; “the one you choose,” they said, fully aware, that everything was being preordained by God.”
One Minute Reflection – 24 February – Feast of St Matthias, Apostle and Martyr – Acts 1:15-26, Matthew 11:25-30
“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to little ones.” – Matthew 11:25
REFLECTION – “The fact that the all-powerful God has been able to humble Himself even to the humility of the human condition, constitutes a greater proof than the impact and supernatural character of miracles. Indeed, when Divine power effects something of great sublimity, this is, after a fashion, in conformity with and appropriate to God’s nature… On the other hand, that God descended even to our lowliness is, in a certain way, the expression of an overwhelming power which, is not in the least restrained, by what is contrary to its nature…
Neither the expanse of the heavens, the brightness of the stars, the governing of the universe, nor the harmony of created things, reveal the splendid power of God so much, as His indulgence, which leads Him to lower Himself to the weakness of our nature… God’s goodness, wisdom, justice and power, are revealed in His plans on our behalf: goodness in His will to “save that which was lost” (Lk 19,10); wisdom and justice, in His manner of saving us; power in the fact, that Christ became “in the likeness of men” (Phil 2,7-8) and made Himself conformable to the humility of our nature.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-395) Bishop, Father of the Church (Catechetical Discourse 23-26 ; SC 453).
PRAYER – God, Who added blessed Matthias to the company of Your Apostles, grant, we beseech You, that by his intercession, we may ever be aware of the depth of Your 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 – Feast of St Matthias, Apostle and Martyr
Exsultet Orbis! Let the World Rejoice! Unknown Author
Now let the earth with joy resound, And Heaven the chant re-echo round; Nor Heaven nor earth too high can raise The great Apostles’ glorious praise.
O ye who, throned in glory dread, Shall judge the living and the dead, Lights of the world forever more! To you the suppliant prayer we pour.
Ye close the Sacred Gates on high. At your command apart they fly. O loose for us the guilty chain We strive to break and strive in vain.
Sickness and health your voice obey, At your command they go or stay. From sin’s disease our souls restore; In good confirm us more and more.
So when the world is at its end. And Christ to Judgment shall descend, May we be called, those joys to see Prepared from all eternity.
Praise to the Father, with the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One; As ever was in ages past And so shall be while ages last. Amen
(Roman Breviary for the Common of Apostles) An Office Hymn that was traditionally prescribed for Vespers and Lauds on the Feasts of Apostles and Evangelists outside Easter time. The Hymn is found as early as the tenth century in a hymnal of Moissac Abbey.
Saint of the Day – 24 February – St Matthias Apostle of Christ, Martyr.
St Mattias, born in Bethlehem of Juda, was at the commencement of Christ’s preaching, numbered by Him, among the seventy-two disciples and everywhere accompanied our Saviour and witnessed all His miracles and His Resurrection.
After Christ’s Ascension, Matthias was chosen Apostle in place of the traitor Judas, as is detailed in the Epistle of this day and, after the descent of the Holy Ghost, announced the Gospel, first to his own people, the Jews and then, in Cappadocia and the neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea.
Having preached the doctrine of salvation in many countries, especially urging, as St Clement of Alexandria relates, abstinence from Carnal pleasures, he was stoned by the Jews in Galilee, who wished not to hear his sermons and was finally beheaded by the Roman soldiers about the year 63. (Father Leonard Goffine, 1880).
Acts 1:15-26
In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren – now the number of persons met together, was about a hundred and twenty – and he said, Brethren, the Scripture must be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit declared before, by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide of those who arrested Jesus; inasmuch as he had been numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. And he indeed bought a field with the price of his iniquity and, being hanged, burst asunder in the midst and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field came to be called, in their language, Haceldama, that is, the Field of Blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let their habitation become desolate and let there be none to dwell in it.’ And, ‘His ministry let another take.’ Therefore, of these men who have been in our company all the time that the Lord Jesus moved among us, from John’s baptism until the day that He was taken up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of His Resurrection.” And they put forward two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus and Matthias.
The Election of St Matthias
And they prayed and said, You, Lord, Who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell away to go to his own place. And they drew lots between them and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
O God, Who didst choose Thy blessed servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy Church, being upholden by his prayers, may ever feel about her, the arms of Thy most mighty Protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
St Adela of Blois Bl Antonio Taglia Bl Arnold of Carcassonne St Betto of Auxerre Bl Berta of Busano
Blessed Constantius of Fabriano OP (1401-1481) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Prior, Reformer, Preacher of renown, Writer, known as a Miracle-Worker and had the gift of prophecy, peacemaker Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/24/saint-of-the-day-24-february-blessed-constantius-of-fabriano-op-1401-1481/
Bl Ida of Hohenfels Bl Josefa Naval Girbes St Liudhard Bl Lotario Arnari Bl Marco De’ Marconi St Modestus of Trier St Peter the Librarian St Praetextatus of Rouen St Primitiva St Sergius of Caesarea Bl Simon of Saint Bertin
Lenten Preparation Novena in Reparation to the Holy Face Day Four
“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)
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 Your 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 Spirit. Amen
(Console the Holy Face and recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,8-9: Indeed you love truth in the heart, then in the secret of my heart, teach me Wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean, O wash me. I shall be whiter than snow.
O Lord Jesus, Who has said, learn of Me for I am meek and gentle of heart and Who did manifest upon Thy Holy Face, the sentiments of Thy Divine Heart, grant that we may love to meditate upon Thy Divine Countenance, that we may read there, Thy gentleness and Thy humility and learn from Thee to form our hearts in the practice of these two virtues, which Thou desires to see shine in Thy servants. Mary our Mother and Saint Joseph help us. Through the merits of Thy Precious Blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition ……………… Pardon and mercy. Amen
Prayer in Honour of the Dolours of the Blessed Virgin
O Most Holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs! Who stood beneath the Cross, witnessing the agony of your Diyine Son, look down with a Mother’s tenderness and pity on us, as we kneel before you to venerate your Dolours and place our requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of your wounded heart. Present them on our behalf to Jesus, through the merits of His most Sacred Passion and Death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the Cross and through the united efficacy of both, obtain the favour which we humbly ask. To whom shall we go in our wants and miseries, if not to you. O Mother of Mercy, who having so deeply drunk of the chalice of your Son, graciously alleviate the sufferings of those who still sigh in this land of exile. 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 – 23 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Sacrament of Penance
“We should confess our sins humbly and sincerely. We are obliged to confess at least all the mortal sins which we have committed after Baptism and have never included in a previous good confession. We should prepare for the Sacrament by making a careful examination of conscience in the presence of God. When we kneel before our Confessor, we should remember that, even though he is only a man like ourselves, he is the representative of God. We should confess at least our mortal sins in a clear and exact manner. Whenever possible, we should confess deliberate venial sins in order to be sure of obtaining forgiveness for them.
It is very necessary to be sincerely sorry for our sins and to be firmly resolved never to commit them again, with the help of divine grace.
Perfect contrition, which stems from a pure and disinterested act of love for God, is not necessary. Attrition is sufficient, that is, imperfect sorrow which springs from a lower supernatural motive, such as the fear of hell, the hideousness of sin, insofar, as it is an offence against God, or the loss of eternal happiness.
Let us examine ourselves to ensure that we fulfil all the ncessary conditions in our Convession.”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church
“Those, who do not love the Cross of Christ, do not love Christ!”
“The best penance is, to have patience with the sorrows God permits. A very good penance is, to dedicate oneself to fulfill the duties of everyday with exactitude and to study and work, with all our strength.”
“When you are scorned by others and lashed by God, do not despair. God lashes us in this life to shield us from the eternal lash in the next.”
“He pours light into our minds, arouses our desire and gives us strength… As the soul is the life of the body, so the Holy Spirit is the life of our souls.”
“Through a woman, [Eve] a curse fell upon the earth; through a woman, [Mary] there returned to the earth, a blessing!”
One Minute Reflection – 23 February – The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matthew 5:13-19
“I have come, not to abolish but to fulfil.” … Matthew 5:17
REFLECTION – “In Him, the promise made through the shadows of prophecy, stands revealed, along with the full meaning of the precepts of the law. He is the One Who teaches the Truth of prophecy, through His presence and makes obedience to the commandments possible, through grace. In the preaching of the holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No-one should be ashamed of the Cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed. No-one should fear to suffer for the sake of justice, no-one should lose confidence in the reward that has been promised. The way to rest is through toil, the way to life is through death. Christ has taken on Himself the whole weakness of our lowly human nature. If then, we are steadfast in our faith in Him and in our love for Him, we win the victory that He has won, we receive what He has promised. When it comes to obeying the commandments or enduring adversity, the words uttered by the Father should always echo in our ears – “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.” … St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father and Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from Sermo 51).
PRAYER – Grant us, we beseech You, almighty God, to follow the counsel and examples of St Peter, Your 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 – 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
AnaStpaul 
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