Saint of the Day – 25 October – St Gaudentius of Brescia (Died 410) Bishop , renowned Preacher, Theologian, Diplomatic Mediator, Born in Brescia, Italy and died there in 410 of natural causes.
The Roman Martyrology states today: “In Brescia, Saint Gaudentius, Bishop, who, Ordained by Saint Ambrose, shone among the prelates of his time for doctrine and virtue, instructed his people with words and writings and founded a Basilica which he called the ‘Council of Saints.‘”
16th century depiction of St Gaudentius by Romanino
Gaudentius was the eighth Bishop of Brescia, the City where he was born. We know something about his life from his ten Sermons, sent to a worthy fellow citizen, a Brescian nobleman named Benivolus, who, because he was ill, could not attend Mass to listen to him. Gaudemnzio, for his humility, thought he carried out his ministry solely through preaching. His homilies were copied and disseminated because they were requested by the faithful. When he was elected Bishop, by popular acclaim and with the approval of St Ambrose, he was on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Brescians then sent a delegation to Palestine to get him back as soon as possible.
He enjoyed a reputation of great holiness and for this reason ,he had the esteem of the great religious and civil personalities of his time.
Born at Brescia, Italy, about the middle of the 4th century, Gaudentius was educated under St Philastrius, Bishop of Brescia, whom he termed his “father.” After earning a reputation for sanctity, he travelled to the East where he gained even more fame. In his absence, he was elected Bishop by the people on the death of St Philastrius, although he felt unworthy to receive such an honour, he was influenced to accept it by the Eastern Bishops and in 387 he was consecrated by St Ambrose.
Gaudentius was a powerful preacher and ten of his Sermons have survived, offering ample testimony to this fact, as well as twenty-one tractates and several pastoral and private letters survive. He governed his See with prudence and humility, inspiring his flock to imitate the Divine Master .
In 405, the Saint was sent with two others by Pope Innocent I to the East to defend St. John Chrysostom before Arcadius. However, the party was prevented from reaching Arcadius and never formally interceded for John – the three men were shipped back home on a vessel so unseaworthy that it almost sank and had to be left at Lampsacus. Subsequently, St. John wrote a letter of thanks to St Gaudentius for his efforts, even though they had not borne fruit. This saintly man died in 410 and was called by Rufinus: “the glory of the Doctors of the age in which he lived.”
Virgen Blanca – The Dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Toledo, Spain and the White Virgin (Also known as the Smiling Madonna) (1085) – 25 October:
The Abbot Orsini wrote: “Dedication of Our Lady of Toledo, in Spain, about the year 1075, by Bernard, Archbishop of that City.”
The City of Toledo in Spain was not reconquered until 1085, when King Alfonso VI, King of Leon and Castile, took the City from the Moors. This was an important step in the Reconquista, as Toledo had once been the capital of Visigothic Spain. The City’s Cathedral had been desecrated and used as a mosque by the Moslem invaders of Spain but the people had the pleasure of seeing it blessed and consecrated in the year 1087. It was placed under the advocacy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as King Alfonso wrote:
“I, Alfonso, Emperor of all Spain by God’s Providence, convened with the Bishops, namely, that for these ten will I preserve the papal honour of Saint Mary of the City of Toledo, which was formerly the See…”
In 1225 a new Cathedral was begun to replace the older one, for which King Fernando III drew up the plans and laid the cornerstone. Fernando’s good friend, the Archbishop Rodrigo Ximenez de Rada, worked very enthusiastically for the completion of the new Cathedral where he was Bishop. There are so many masterpieces of art and beautiful Shrines in the City of Toledo, Spain, that a visitor may easily miss the White Virgin. She stands atop an Altar in the choir of Toledo’s magnificent Cathedral. It is said that you can live to be 100 years old, visit this wonderful Cathedral once a week for all of your life and still never finish discovering its glories!
The sacred image of Our Lady is a polychromed alabaster Statue of French origin from the twelfth century. Both Mother and Child are clothed in white, their garments bordered with jeweled gold. Their faces darkened by time, are framed with curly, strawberry-blond hair. The Statue has also been called the “Smiling Virgin of Toledo;” for the Child’s right hand caresses His Mother’s face, tickling her chin. She responds with a smile that gives this image its popular name. It is also called the “Virgin of Prima” and the “Virgen Blanca.” There is also another artifact worthy of special mention and that is the ten foot tall great Monstrance of Arfe. It is made of both silver and gold, inset with precious gems. It took nearly 8 years to construct and is done in a Gothic style that is truly a magnificent work of art.
St Alfons Arimany Ferrer St Bernard of Calvo St Canna verch Tewdr Marw St Chrysanthus
St Cyrinus of Rome St Daria St Dulcardus Bl Edmund Daniel St Fronto of Périgueux St Fructus of Segovia St Gaudentius of Brescia (Died 410) Bishop St George of Périgueux St Goeznoveus of Leon St Guesnoveus Bl Henry of Segusio St Hilary of Javols St Hilary of Mende St Hildemarca of Fecamp St Januarius of Sassari St Lucius of Rome St Lupus of Bayeux St Mark of Rome
Martyrs of Cruz Cubierta – 5 beati: A mother, Blessed María Teresa Ferragud Roig de Masiá and her four daughters, Blessed María Joaquina Masiá Ferragud, Blessed María Vicenta Masiá Ferragud, Blessed María Felicidad Masiá Ferragud and Blessed Josefa Ramona Masiá Ferragud, all nuns, who were Martyred in the Spanish Civil War, on 25 October 1936 in Cruz Cubierta, Alzira, Valencia, Spain. They were Beatified on 11 March 2001 by St Pope John Paul II.
Forty Martyrs of England and Wales – 40 saints: Following the dispute between the Pope and King Henry VIII in the 16th century, faith questions in the British Isles became entangled with political questions, with both often being settled by torture and murder of loyal Catholics. In 1970, the Vatican selected 40 martyrs, men and women, lay and religious, to represent the full group of perhaps 300 known to have died for their faith and allegiance to the Church between 1535 and 1679. They each have their own day of memorial, but are remembered as a group on 25 October.
• Alban Roe • Alexander Briant • Ambrose Edward Barlow • Anne Line • Augustine Webster • Cuthbert Mayne • David Lewis • Edmund Arrowsmith • Edmund Campion • Edmund Gennings • Eustace White • Henry Morse • Henry Walpole • John Almond • John Boste • John Houghton • John Jones • John Kemble • John Lloyd • John Pain • John Plesington • John Rigby • John Roberts • John Southworth • John Stone • John Wall • Luke Kirby • Margaret Clitherow • Margaret Ward • Nicholas Owen • Philip Evans • Philip Howard • Polydore Plasden • Ralph Sherwin • Richard Gwyn • Richard Reynolds • Robert Lawrence • Robert Southwell • Secular Clergy • Swithun Wells • Thomas Garnet.
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: • Blessed Alfons Arimany Ferrer • Blessed Recaredo Centelles Abad
Thought for the Day – 24 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” “As We Also Forgive Our Debtors”
“If thou art offering thy gift at the altar,” Jesus tells us “and thou remember that thy brother has anything against thee, leave thy gift before the altar and go first to be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift” (Mt 5:23-24). Prayer is futile, therefore, unless we have first forgiven our enemies!
“Learn from me,” Jesus said when He proposed Himself as a model to be imitated, “for I am meek and humble of heart.” Then He added, “you will find rest for your souls” (Cf Mt 11:29). The foundation of our hatred, anger and resentment, is always our wounded pride. We need Christlike gentleness and humility, if we are to forgive sincerely and generously. Only when we have this gentleness and humility, moreover, shall we find joy in forgiving and only then, shall we have peace. As long as there is room in our hearts for pride and hatred, we can never enjoy peace of soul!”
Quote/s of the Day – 24 October ” – Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Psalm 126: 1-6; Hebrews 5: 1-6; Mark 10: 46-52
“And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.”
Mark 10:52
“Come, follow me”
Matthew 19:21
“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ.”
Colossians 3:23-24
“If we follow Christ closely we shall be allowed, even on this earth, to stand, as it were, on the threshold of the heavenly Jerusalem and enjoy the contemplation, of that everlasting feast, like the blessed Apostles, who, in following the Saviour as their leader, showed and still show, the way to obtain the same gift from God. They said – See, we have left all things and followed You. We too follow the Lord and we keep His feast by deeds rather than by words.”
St Athanasius (297-373) Father & Doctor of the Church
“We will follow You, Lord Jesus. But in order for us to follow You, call us because without You, no-one will ascend towards You. For You are the way, the truth, the life. You are also our help, our trust, our reward. Welcome those who belong to You, You who are the way; strengthen them, You who are the truth; give them life, You who are the life.”
St Ambrose (340-397) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Let us listen to the Lord: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6). If you are looking for the Truth, follow the Way which is also the Truth. This is where you are going and it is how you go. It is not by another thing that you go to something; it is not by anything else that you come to Christ; it is through Christ that you come to Christ. How to Christ through Christ? To Christ God through Christ man; through the Word made flesh, to the Word who was with God, from the beginning; through what we have eaten to what the angels eat daily. In fact it is what is written: “He gave them bread from heaven; man ate the bread of angels” (Ps 77[78]:24-25). What is the bread of angels? “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was in God and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1-3). How has man eaten the bread of angels? “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“Jesus is happy to come with us, as Truth is happy to be spoken, as Life to be lived, as Light to be lit, as Love is to be loved, as Joy to be given, as Peace to be spread.”
One Minute Reflection – 24 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Psalm 126: 1-6; Hebrews 5: 1-6; Mark 10: 46-52 and the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel
“And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way” .…Mark 10:52
REFLECTION – “[Moses said to the Lord on Mount Sinai]: “Let me see your glory!” He answered: “I will make all my beauty pass before you … but my face you cannot see” (Ex 33:18 f).] Such an experience seems to me to belong to the soul which loves what is beautiful. Hope always draws the soul from the beauty which is seen, to what is beyond … And the bold request which goes up the mountains of desire, asks this – to enjoy the Beauty, not in mirrors and reflections but face-to-face. The divine Voice granted what was requested in what was denied … – the munificence of God assented to the fulfilment of the desire but did not promise any cessation or satiety of the desire … The true sight of God consists in this, that the one who looks up to God never ceases in that desire. For He says: “You cannot see my face and live” …
But when the Lord who spoke to Moses came to fulfil His own law, He likewise gave a clear explanation to His disciples, laying bare the meaning of what had previously been said in a figure, when He said: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine “ (Lk 9:23) and not “If any man will go before me.” And to the one asking about eternal life, He proposes the same thing, for He says: “Come, follow me” (Lk 18:22). Now, he who follows, sees the back. So Moses, who eagerly seeks to behold God, is now taught how he can behold Him – to follow God wherever he might lead, is to behold God (…).
Someone who does not know the way, cannot complete his journey safely in any other way, than by following behind his guide. He who leads, then, by His guidance shows the way to the one following. He who follows, will not turn aside from the right way, if he always keeps the back of his leader in view. For he who moves to one side or brings himself to face his guide, assumes another direction for himself, than the one his guide shows him. Therefore, God says to the one who is led: “My face is not to be seen”, that is, “Do not face your guide”. If he does so, his course will certainly be in the opposite direction …. to follow God wherever He might lead, is to behold God! No longer does any offence which comes about through evil, withstand the one who thus follows Him.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-395) Bishop, Father (Brother of St Basil the Great) – The Life of Moses, II.
PRAYER – Lord God of Hosts, in Your all-wise Providenc, You assign to Angels and to men, the services they have to render You. Grant that the Angels who adore You in Heaven, may protect and guid us here on earth. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God now and for all eternity, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 24 October – Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer before Holy Communion By St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
Lord, I know that I am not worthy to receive Thy Holy Body and Precious Blood; I know that I am guilty and that I eat and drink condemnation to myself, not discerning the Body and Blood of Christ, my God. But trusting in Thy loving kindness, I come to Thee, Who hast said – ‘Whoever eats My Body and drinks My Blood, will dwell in me and I in him’; Therefore, Lord, have compassion on me and do not put to shame Thy sinful servant But deal with me according to Thy great mercy And grant that these holy gifts, may be for me, healing, cleansing, enlightenment, protection, salvation and sanctification of soul and body. May they cast out from me every dark delusion, sinful deed or work of the evil one. May they move me to trust and love Thee always, to amendment of life, increase of virtue, obedience to Thy commandments, communion of the Holy Spirit, provision for my final journey and a good defence before the dreadful seat of judgement. Amen
Saint of the Day – 24 October – St Raphael the Archangel. Patronages – the blind, travellers, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Catholic Marriage and Catholic studies.The Feast day of Saint Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on 24 October. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the Feast was transferred to 29 September for celebration together with the Archangels, Saints Michael and Gabriel.
O God, Who gave Blessed Raphael the Archangel to Tobias as his travelling companion, grant to us Thy servants, that we also may be guarded by his care and receive the protection of his assistance. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
St Raphael, Archangel By Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876
The two youths then set out on their journey. After the first day’s march, Tobias rested on the bank of the river Tigris and when he went to wash his feet in this river, an immense fish came suddenly up to devour him. When he called to his companion for help, Raphael told him to seize the fish courageously and draw him to land. Tobias did so, after which, Raphael told him to open the fish, take out the entrails and keep the heart, liver and gall, as useful medicines. They continued their journey,and took lodgings in the house of Raguel, who was of the same tribe as Tobias and who had an only daughter, named Sara, whom Raphael advised Tobias to take as wife. Tobias feared to do this, as he had heard that Sara had already been given in marriage to seven husbands, all of whom had been killed by the devil. Raphael, however, said: “Hear me and I will tell thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail. It is they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from their heart and mind.”
Tobias exactly followed the directions of his holy companion and remained unharmed. From how many evils would persons about to be married be saved, if they had first received and followed suitable instructions from their pastors who, in regard to them, take the place of Raphael, advising them what they should do in order to enter the state of holy matrimony properly prepared. They should purify their heart by a good general confession and be married, not like heathens in the darkness of night but at Mass receiving the blessing of the Priest at the Altar. After marriage, they should live as becomes the marriage state, faithfully fulfilling the admonition of St Paul, sanctifying each other and taking care, that their children shall become, without delay, children of God through Baptism. Indeed, how much displeased must be the Guardian Angels of new-born children at seeing them, through the neglect of their parents, to have them Baptised in time, left in the power of the devil, in original sin and in danger of eternal perdition. While Tobias remained at the house of Raguel, his heavenly companion went to Rages, demanded and received, without any hesitation, the borrowed money from Gabelus, returned to Raguel and having made a short stay there, accompanied Tobias back to his home at Ninive.
Anna, Tobias’ mother, had meanwhile, grieved very much at the long absence of her son. She daily went to a high mountain and looked into the distance, to see whether her son was approaching and, when, on the day of his return, she saw him from afar, she ran to her husband and informed him of his son’s approach. Being blind, Tobias gave his hand to a servant and went to meet his son, as also did Anna. Both fell on his neck, kissed him and wept for joy. Having all entered their house, they adored the Almighty and gave due thanks to Him for the happy issue of the journey. Tobias, the son, then took some of the gall of the fish, and anointed his father’s eyes, as the Angel Raphael had told him to do, before they had reached the house and immediately, the blind father recovered his sight. Indescribably great ,was the joy of the father, the mother, the whole household and neighbourhood. Having given humble thanks to God for this new grace, Tobias told his parents how many benefits he had received from his travelling companion. “He conducted me and brought me safely back again,” said he; “he received the money from Gabelus, he caused me to obtain my wife and he chased from her the evil spirits and gave joy to her parents. Myself, he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also, father hath he made to see the light of heaven and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for all these?“
Before his father could answer, he begged him to give so faithful a companion, as recompense, one-half of all the things they had brought. Tobias acceded to this proposal of his son without hesitation and calling the Angel, they both begged him to accept one-half of all the things they had brought, as a recompense for his services. But the Angel said to them: “Bless ye the God of heaven, give glory to Him in the sight of all that live because he hath showed mercy to you. For it is good to hide the secret of a king but honourable to confess and reveal the works of God. Prayer is good with fasting and alms, more than to lay up treasures of gold; for alms delivereth from death and the same is that which purgeth away sin and maketh us to find mercy and life everlasting. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own soul. When thou didst pray with tears and didst bury the dead and didst leave thy dinner and hide the dead by day in thy house and bury them by night, I offered thy prayers to the Lord. And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that temptation should prove thee. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee and to deliver Sara thy son’s wife from the devil. For I am the Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the Lord.”
Having thus spoken, the Holy Archangel was silent but Tobias and his son were seized with fear and fell trembling, with their faces to the ground. The Angel cheered them, with the words: “Peace be to you, fear not. For when I was with you, it was by the will of God: bless ye Him and sing praises unto Him. It is time now that I return to Him that sent me but bless ye God and publish all His wonderful works.” Having said these words, he vanished from their sight. They, however, lay prostrate on the ground for three hours, partly from fear, partly in wonder at the great goodness of God who had sent so high a Prince of Heaven to protect, comfort and help them. At length, having overcome their awe they repeated their thanks to God and announced everywhere, the benefits He had bestowed upon them. The beautiful hymn of praise which Tobias composed on that occasion is to be found in Holy Writ. From this event, as true as it is wonderful, several historians, not without reason, conclude that the intercession of St Raphael ought to be invoked by those who are either troubled or tempted by the Evil One, who are blind, or otherwise infirm, or who go on a journey. The name, Raphael, means “the remedy, or the physician of God” and shows ,that this Holy Angel assists, particularly those who are sick, either in soul or body. The true Church teaches those who intend to undertake a journey to pray: “May the Angel Raphael be with us on our way!” from which we infer, that he is the especial patron of all travellers.
Prayer to Saint Raphael the Archangel
Glorious Archangel, St Raphael, great Prince of the Heavenly Court, illustrious by thy gifts of wisdom and grace, guide of travellers by land and sea, consoler of the unfortunate and refuge of sinners, I entreat thee to help me in all my needs and in all the trials of this life, as thou didst once assist the young Tobias in his journeying. And since thou art the “Physician of God,” I humbly pray thee to heal my soul of its many infirmities and my body of the ills that afflict it, if this favour is for my greater good. I ask, especially, for angelic purity, that I may be made fit to be the living temple of the Holy Ghost. Amen
(Indulgence of 100 days.—-Pope Leo XIII., 21 June 1890)
Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saint Raphael the Archangel The Feast day of Saint Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on 24 October. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the Feast was transferred to September 29 for celebration together with Archangels Saints Michael and Gabriel.
Beata Vergine delle Grazie / The Blessed Virgin of Grace, Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy (1479) – Fourth Sunday of October:
When Sir John Emo was serving as Venetian Ambassador to Constantinople, Sultan Mohammed II gave him a Byzantine-style icon of the Virgin nursing the Child. In 1479, Sir Emo became Lieutenant of Udine, a City in northeast Italy then under the Republic of Venice, bringing the icon with him to the governor’s castle. Not long afterward, one of the palace cooks nearly lost a hand in the kitchen but it healed when touched to the image. News of the miracle inspired popular devotion, so Sir Emo decided to move the image to the Church of Sts. Gervais and Protasius, where it entered in procession on 8 September 1479. By 1495, the Church was too small for all the pilgrims and a new Sanctuary was begun, consecrated to Our Lady of Graces and run by the Servants of Mary. On 6 September 1870 the Church Crowned the icon; in 1922, it named the Shrine a Minor Basilica.
On the fourth Sunday of October, the City both fulfills and renews, a vow made during the plague of 1555. The Beata Verginedelle Grazie is also credited with saving the region from the plague of 1599, the cholera of 1836 and the bombardment of the war in1944.
St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Known as “The Spiritual Father of Cuba.” In the first years, records show, that he Confirmed 100,000 people and performed 9,000 Sacramental Marriages.Archbishop of Cuba, one of the Fathers of the First Vatican Council,Confessor to the Queen of Spain, Missionary, Founder of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly called the Claretians, Confessor, Mystic, Social Reformer, Spiritual Director, Writer, Publisher, Preacher, Apostle of Charity. He was declared venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. He was Beatified in 1934 and in 1950, Canonised by Pope Pius XII. His heart is incorrupt. The 1969 revision of the calendar moved St Anthony Feast to the day of his death, 24 October (from the 23rd) which had been the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel since 1921. (Optional Memorial) About St Anthony Mary here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/saint-of-the-day-24-october-st-anthony-mary-claret-1807-1870-cmf/
Bl Amado García Sánchez St Audactus of Thibiuca St Cadfarch St Ciriacus of Hierapolis St Claudian of Hierapolis St Ebregislus of Cologne St Felix of Thibiuca St Fortunatus of Thibiuca St Fromundus of Coutances St Giuse Lê Dang Thi
St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915) “Servant of Charity,” Priest, Founder the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence (1890) and the Servants of Charity (24 March 1908) alongside his friends Fr David Albertario (1846-1902) and Blessed Giuseppe Toniolo (1845-1918). Apostle of Charity, Marian devotee, Eucharistic Adorer and passionate promoter. Guanella also founded the Pious Union of Saint Joseph (1914) with his supporter and first member St Pope Pius X. St Luigi’s Life: https://anastpaul.com/2018/10/24/saint-of-the-day-24-october-st-luigi-guanella-1842-1915-servant-of-charity/
St Maglorius of Wales St Marcius of Monte Cassino St Martin of Vertou
St Senoch St Senócus of Tours St Septimus of Thibiuca — Martyrs of Ephesus – 3 saints: Three Christians martyred together. All we know about them are the names Mark, Sotericus and Valentina. They were stoned to death near Ephesus, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey). Their relics are enshrined on the island of Tasos.
Thought for the Day – 23 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” “Forgive Us Our Debts”
“Over and above these natural debts, we are also indebted to God for His grace. Not only has God created us but He has also raised us to the supernatural order. By His grace, He has made us His friends and His adopted children. As a result of original sin, we lost this supernatural life and were unable to regain it by our own efforts.
God was moved with compassion for us, however and sent His own divine Son to sacrifice Himself for love of us, in order to redeem us and to restore to us, the supernatural life of the soul. We are greatly indebted in the supernatural order, therefore, to our Creator and our Redeemer. The only way in which we can adequately satisfy our obligation is by offering up the infinite merits of Jesus Christ.
We have been born, moreover, in the Catholic Church and have received a Christian education. God has always been close to us with His Sacraments. By means of Baptism, He caused us to be born again to a life of grace. Whenever we fell, He raised us up again through the Sacrament of Penance and, when we were weak and faltering, He nourished us with His Eucharistic food. Let us adore Him and acknowledge that we can never thank Him enough for all that He has done for us. That is why we need to repeat, time and time again, Forgive us our debts!”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 October – Readings: Romans 8: 1-11; Psalm 24: 1b-6; Luke 13: 1-9
“I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilise it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not, you may cut it down.”
Luke 13:8-9
“… This kind Master closes His Church to no-one. He not only receives and pardons those adversaries, those blasphemers, those persistent enemies of His Name, provided they do penance for their offence and acknowledge the crime committed but, He admits them to the reward of the kingdom of heaven. What can be called more patient, what more kind? Even he, who shed the Blood of Christ, is given life, by the Blood of Christ.”
St Cyprian of Carthage – (c 200- c 258) Bishop and Martyr, Father of the Church
“When he has begun to follow Me, according to My teaching and precepts, he will find many people contradicting him and standing in his way, many who not only deride but even persecute him. Moreover, this is true, not only of pagans who are outside the Church but also of those, who seem to be in it visibly but are outside of it because of the perversity of their deeds. Although these glory, in merely the title of Christian, they continually persecute faithful Christians.”
St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)”
“If you seek an example of humility, look upon Him Who is Crucified, although He was God, He chose to be judged by Pontius Pilate and put to death. … If you seek an example of obedience, imitate Him Who was obedient to the Father “even to death” (Phil 2:8). “For just as through the disobedience of one person, Adam, the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of One, the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). . If you seek an example of contempt for earthly things, imitate Him Who is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tm 6:15), “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). On the Cross He was stripped naked, ridiculed, spat upon, bruised, crowned with thorns, given to drink of vinegar and gall.”
St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Angelic Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 23 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Romans 8: 1-11; Psalm 24: 1b-6; Luke 13: 1-9
“I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilise it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not, you may cut it down.” – Luke 13:8-9
REFLECTION – “[Saint Catherine heard God say to her]: “Whether the world wills it or not, it offers Me glory. True, the people of the world do not offer Me glory in the way they ought, by loving Me above all things. But I, for My part ,draw from them glory and praise for My Name.
For My Mercy and the fulness of My Charity are reflected in them because I lend them time and do not order the earth to swallow them up for their sins. No, I look on them and order the earth to give them a share of its fruits and I command the sun to warm them and give them its light and heat and I order the sky to move above them. In all created things made for them, I employ My Mercy and Love, nor do I withdraw these because of their sins. I give to sinners, as I give to the just — and often more to sinners than to just because the just are ready to suffer and I will deprive them of earthly goods, in order to give them more abundantly of the goods of Heaven.
So My Mercy and Love shine on My servants, sometimes in the persecutions the world’s servants inflict on them, proving in them the virtues of patience and charity. By offering constant, humble prayer, My suffering servants turn it into glory and praise for My Name. So, whether the wicked will it or not, they offer Me glory in this, even though their intent is to insult Me..” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church, Co-patron of Europe (The gift of conformity to Christ, chap. 50, no. 80 (The Dialogue, Bk. 2).
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, help me to keep my death constantly before my eyes, for this is my final account. I pray You for a holy life that my death may be holy and that I may come to You and live for all eternity with You. May each moment of my life, the good and the trials, bear abundant fruit for love of You. When my hour is come, bid me come to You, Lord. Hear the prayers of your Saints and the Mother of Your divine Son, who lived each moment of her life for the glory of Your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ, our Lord with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 23 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” and a Marian Saturday
Hail, O Mother! By St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church
Hail, O Mother! Virgin, heaven, throne, glory of our Church, it’s foundation and ornament. Earnestly pray for us to Jesus, your Son and Our Lord, that through your intercession, we may have mercy on the day of judgement. Pray that we may receive, all those good things which are reserved for those who love God. Through the grace and favour of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be power, honour and glory, now and forever. Amen
Saint of the Day – 23 October – Saint Allucio of Campugliano (c 1070–1134) Layman, Apostle of the poor and of pilgrims, Penitent, peace-maker., miracle-worker. Born in c 1070 in Campugliano, Italy and died on 23 October 1134 in Campugliano, Italy of natural causes. Patronage – Diocese of Pescia, Italy, (proclaimed in 2000 by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints).
Allucio was born in Valdinievole near Pescia to Omodeo, a prosperous rural landowner. He spent his youth shepherding the family’s flock before devoting his life to acts of charity.
His journey of assisting pilgrims and travellers began with the restoration of the Hospice of Campugliano, which was practically in ruins. It was entrusted to his industrious piety. Allucio brought the building back to an admirable Shelter, in which work he was assisted by some comrades, who were rich like himself, in the zeal of charity. These friends formed the core of the Lay Apostalate which was later called Brothers of SaintAllucio.
To better assist the poor and needy, the young Allucio founded another hospice on Monte Albano. He created a third one near the bank of the Arno, over which he even built a bridge, for the convenience of pilgrims. The latter was not an easy ndertaking, not only for the technical problems but because Allucio had to convince and appease the local ferryman, who earned hefty earnings by carrying travellers from one bank to the other.
According to tradition, miracles multiplied in great numbers around the benefactor of the poor. For this reason, real diplomatic missions were delegated to him in distant Cities, which Allucio carried out successfully, managing to pacify them, for example, the two rival Cities of Ravenna and Faenza came at last to peace through his negotiations.
Among the miraculous interventions handed down by devotion, the most unusual was that of the man whose eyes had been gouged out, as punishment for some crime committed, according to the so-called “retaliation law,” common in the Middle Ages. Not out of contempt for justice but out of pity for the blinded, even if guilty, Allucio put his eyes back in the hollow sockets of the condemned, restoring his sight.
He built two Churches, a bridge over the Arno, three Shelters and Hospices for pilgrims and other travellers, including one on his own properties at Campigliano near Uzzano and others in mountain passes and river crossings. He was a generous almsgiver and carer of the sick and the poor. In all this work, the “Brothers of Saint Allucio,” grew in numbers and in their charitable works and became an powerful Apostolate.
As active as he was in doing good, he was equally strict with himself. He never ate meat, nor cheese, nor eggs. He fasted three times a week. And for seven consecutive Lents, he touched no food at all.
He died at Valdinievole on 23 October 1134 calm and active until the last moment. He was immediately made the subject of a lively popular cult.
His body was interred by the Brothers in the Church of Saint Luke in Campugliano. In 1344, his relics were enshrined in a stone urn at the High Altar of the Cathdral of Campugliano by Dominican Brother Paul Lapi by order of Bishop Guglielmo Dulcini of Lucca, Italy. In 1792, the relics were moved to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, Cathedral of Pescia and finally, in 1934, they were moved to the new Chapel built in his honour and dedicated to Saint Allucio in Campugliano.
He was Canonised on 23 October 1182 by the Bishop of Lucca, Italy on behalf of the Pope.
When Allucio’s relics were being translated in 1344, a Vita was discovered stored in the reliquary., which contained a record of the many miracles granted at the intercession of the Saint.
Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – The Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer was a Catholic liturgical feast. It is celebrated in Venice as the Festa del Redentore. It is also celebrated by the Redemptorists and was celebrated in the City of Rome. The feast is found only in the special calendar of some Diocese and religious Orders and is celebrated with proper Mass and Office either on the third Sunday of July or on 23 October. https://anastpaul.com/2019/10/23/the-feast-of-the-most-holy-redeemer-23-october/
St John of Capistrano OFM (1386-1456) “The Soldier Saint.” Franciscan Friar and Priest, Confessor and Preacher. Famous as a preacher, theologian and inquisitor, trained lawyer, he earned himself the nickname ‘the Soldier Saint’ when in 1456 at age 70 he led a crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire at the siege of Belgrade with the Hungarian military commander John Hunyadi, called the Athleta Christi (“Christ’s Champion”) by Pope Pius II. (Optional Memorial) St John’s Story here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/10/23/saint-of-the-day-23-october-st-john-capistrano-ofm-1386-1456-the-soldier-saint/
Bl John Buoni St John of Syracuse St Oda of Aquitaine St Phaolô Tong Viet Buong St Romanus of Rouen St Severinus of Cologne St Syra of Faremoutiers St Theodoret of Antioch Bl Thomas Thwing St Verus of Salerno — Martyrs of Cadiz – 2 saints Germanus Servandus Martyrs of Hadrianopolis – 2 saints Dorotheus Severus Martyrs of Nicaea – 3 saints Euerotas Socrates Theodota
Martyrs of Valenciennes – 6 beati: A group of Urusuline and Briggittine nuns murdered together in the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution. They were guillotined on 23 October 1794 in Valenciennes, Nord, France and Beatified on 13 June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. • Anne-Joseph Leroux • Clotilde-Joseph Paillot • Jeanne-Louise Barré • Marie-Augustine Erraux • Marie-Liévine Lacroix • Marie-Marguerite-Joseph Leroux
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War including Martyrs of Manzanares (7 beati): • Agapit Gorgues Manresa • Agustín Nogal Tobar • Andrés Navarro Sierra • César Elexgaray Otazua • Cristóbal González Carcedo • Dorinda Sotelo Rodríguez • Eduardo Valverde Rodríguez • Felipe Basauri Altube • José María Fernández Sánchez • Juan Nuñez Orcajo • Leonardo Olivera Buera • Manuel Navarro Martínez • Roque Guillén Garcés • Toribia Marticorena Sola
Thought for the Day – 22 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” Our Daily Bread
“We can find this teaching which is contained in these words of the “Our Father” in another section of the Gospel, where Jesus tells us that not to ask for riches and not to hoard goods for the future but, to pray and work from day to day, for our daily needs.
“ Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, nor yet for your body, what you shall put on … Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them … Consider how the lilies of the fields grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which flourishes today but tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more you, O you … you of little faith! … Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow will have anxieties of its own. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Cf Mt 6:25-34).“
“Let Your Name, not mine, be praised. Let Your Work, not mine, be magnified. Let Your Holy Name be blessed but let no human praise be given to me. You are my glory. You are the joy of my heart. In You I will glory and rejoice all the day and for myself I will glory in nothing but my infirmities. … ”
Thomas `a Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)
The Imitation of Christ – Book 3 Chapter 40
“And like the little grain of mustard seed … we should set it in the garden of our soul, all weeds being pulled out for the better feeding of our faith. Then shall it grow and … through the true belief of God’s word … we shall be well able to command a great mountain of tribulation to void from the place where it stood in our hearts, whereas with a very feeble faith and faint, we shall scarcely be able to remove a little hillock.”
St Thomas More (1478-1535)
“Never listen to those, who are speaking evil of another and never say anything evil of anyone, excepting of yourself and when you take pleasure in doing this, you will be advancing rapidly.”
St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
“All our goodness is a loan; God is the owner; God works and His work is God.”
St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 22 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary”– Readings: Romans 7: 18-25a; Psalm 119: 66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94; Luke 12: 54-59
“You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”… Luke 12:56
REFLECTION – “People focus their attention on things of this kind. From long observation and practice, they tell beforehand when rain will fall or violent winds will blow. One especially sees that sailors are very skillful in this matter. He says that it would be suitable for those, who can calculate things of this sort and may foretell storms that are about to happen, to focus the penetrating eyes of the mind also on important matters. What are these?
The law showed beforehand the Mystery of Christ, that He would shine out, in the last ages of the world, on the inhabitants of the earth and submit to be a Sacrifice for the Salvation of all. It even commanded a lamb to be sacrificed as a type of Him, Who died towards evening and at lighting of lamps. We might now understand, that when, like the day, this world was declining to its close, the great, precious and truly saving Passion would be fulfilled. The door of salvation would be thrown wide open to those who believe in Him and abundant happiness be their share. In the Song of Songs, we also find Christ calling to the bride described there. The bride personally represents the Church, in these words, “Arise, come, my neighbour, my beautiful dove. Look, the winter is past and the rain is gone. It has passed away. The flowers appear on the ground. The time of the pruning has come.” As I said, a certain springlike calm was about to arise, for those who believe in Him.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Bishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor (Commentary on Luke, Homily 95)
PRAYER – Lord God, You fill us with Your grace and teach us true faith. Strengthen in our hearts that faith that no trials may quench the fire, that we may seek Your Face in every moment and accept AND LIVE all of Your will. Send us Your Spirit to keep the fire blazing. By the inspiration and prayers of the Blessed Virgin, may we grow in sanctity and may the humble love and intercession of Mary Mother of our faith, be our succour. Through Jesus Your Son our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 22 October – Prayer of a Martyr, St Thomas More (1478-1535)
The prayer below, was written by Saint Thomas More while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, awaiting execution by King Henry VIII.
Give Me Thy Grace, Good Lord! A Prayer of Hope By St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Give me Thy grace, good Lord. To set the world at naught. To set the mind firmly on Thee and not to hang upon the words of men’s mouths. To be content to be solitary. Not to long for worldly pleasures. Little by little, utterly to cast off the world and rid my mind of all its business. Not to long to hear of earthly things but that the hearing of worldly fancies, may be displeasing to me. Gladly to be thinking of God, piteously to call for His help. To lean into the comfort of God. Busily to labour to love Him. To know mine own vileness and wretchedness. To humble myself under the mighty Hand of God. To bewail my sins past, for the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity. Gladly to bear my purgatory here. To be joyful in tribulations. To walk the narrow way that leads to life. To bear the Cross with Christ. To have the last thing in remembrance. To have ever before mine eyes, my death that is ever at hand. To make death no stranger to me. To foresee and consider, the everlasting fire of Hell. To pray for pardon before the Judge come. To have continually in mind, the Passion that Christ suffered for me. For His benefits, unceasingly to give Him thanks. To buy the time again, that I before have lost. To abstain from vain conversations. To shun foolish mirth and gladness. To cut off unnecessary recreations. Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all, to set the loss at naught, for the winning of Christ. To think my worst enemies, my best friends, for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favour, as they did him, with their malice and hatred. These minds are more to be desired of every man, than all the treasures of all the princes and kings, Christian and heathen, were it gathered and laid together, all in one heap. Amen
Saint of the Day – 22 October – Blessed Lucia Bartolini Rucellai (Died 1520) Widow, Tertiary of the Order of Preachers, Penitent, Prioress, Born in the 15th Century in Florence as Camila Bartolini and died in 1520 of natural causes.
Lucia was born in Florence, Italy, in the 15th century; She was a member of the noble Bartolini family and was Baptised with the name of Camila. When she was a teenager, she married Rodolfo Rucellai and went to live in the splendid Albertino Palace.
At thirty, however, Savonarola’s words took her out of worldly concerns, enkindling i her the fire of the deepest and most painful spirituality. Even Rudolfo, her husband, was shaken by the prophetic prayers of the preacher and decided, somewhat hastily, to part from his wife, who had no children, to wear the Dominican habit at San Marco.
Camila accepted her husband’s decision and became a tertiary of Saint Dominic. After a few months, Rodolfo Rucellai, more impulsive but less strong than his wife, got tired of the religious state and wanted to return to the world, trying to convince his wife to do the same. But then she was the one who objected with unexpected tenacity and indeed, Lucia, after painful work, had found in the new state, a spiritual wealth in comparison with which, all the flattery of the world seemed empty and doomed.
Rodolfo died shortly after and Camila became a nun with the name of Lucia, she remained in the Convent of the Dominican tertiaries, becoming the promoter of a new foundation, dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena . After the tragic end of Savonarola, hanged and burned as a heretic, in the Piazza della Signoria, in May 1498, Lucia Bartolini was a wise and rigorous guide to the Florentine Convent of Santa Catalina, as Prioress, obtaining permission for her tertiaries to issue three vows and then wear the habit of the nuns of the Second Order.
Lucia was a mortified, penitent and very strict with herself,. She prayed with such fervour that, it was said, the Convent of Santa Catalina appeared crowned with flames, at the times when she was in prayer. And as soon as he died, in 1520, after a serenely accepted illness, her halo as a Blessed came to embellish the glory of the very wealthy Rucellai family, showering them with the glory of Heavenly riches.
Notre-Dame de Talant / Our Lady of Talant, near Dijon, France (also known as the Virgin of St Luke(1443) – 22 October:
Until the twelfth Century, the French “Mons de Talant,” located at the gates of Dijon and belonging to the Estate of the Abbey of Saint-Benigne, was a completely uninhabited place. Considered as if accursed by some, the grounds were given a wide berth and altogether avoided. To others, possessing a more lively imagination, the location was said to be frequented by fairies. In 1208, the Duke of Burgundy, Eudes III, undertook the construction of the Fortress of Talant in order to ensure a safer shelter of its treasures and archives, then in his Ducal Palace of Dijon. He founded north of the castle, a new fortified City and a Priory for some Monks of Saint Benedict. A Church, begun at the same time as the other works, was one of the earliest Gothic Churches in the Duchy of Burgundy. The finished enclosure of the City was 1110 meters long and flanked by 33 towers. Duke Eudes III welcomed, particularly all the serfs who fled the oppression of their lord. Many peasants, attracted by the notion of freedom and the ability to work freed from all hindrance, began to arrive in droves. In 1216, the Duke granted the inhabitants the right to administer themselves by promulgating “the Charter of Commune,” exempting them from taxation and military service. So many people were attracted to Talant that it became necessary to enlarge the Church. A bell tower was also added but the extra weight was too great and the walls began to bow outward. External buttresses were added in the 15th century to solve the problem. John the Fearless, eldest son of Philip the Bold, returning from the Crusade in 1396, brought back as a trophy the Statue “Virgin of St Luke” that he offered to Talant. The Statue of the Virgin is exposed in the Church and in 1443, the Bishop of Langres, Charles de Poitiers, Consecrated the Church to the Mother of God. During the Eighth War of Religion, in 1585, the partisans of Guise seized the fortress by cunning. After its return to the hands of the King in 1598, the decision was made to demolish the castle and the ramparts of the City. The work was finished in 6 months and Talant was reduced to the condition of a simple village. The Church of Notre-Dame remains, however and has been classified as an historic monument since 20 July 1908. The Statue of the Virgin of St Luke, can still be seen there.
St Abericus Marcellus St Alodia of Huesca St Apollo of Bawit St Benedict of Macerac St Bertharius of Monte Cassino St Cordula
St Donatus of Fiesole (Died 874) Bishop of Fiesole, Irish Nobleman, Monk, Priest, Poet, Confessor, Writer, Scholar, Professor, Adviser to Emperors Louis the Pious and Lothair I, Founder of San Martino a Mensola Abbey and leader of two military expeditions against the Saracens. His Life: https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/22/saint-of-the-day-22-october-st-donatus-of-fiesole-died-874/
Bl Esclaramunda of Majorca St Hermes of Adrianople St Ingbert St Leothade of Auch Blessed Lucia Bartolini Rucellai (Died 1520) St Lupenzius St Mark of Jerusalem
St Maroveus of Precipiano St Mellon St Moderan of Rennes St Nepotian of Clermont St Nunctus of Mérida St Nunilo of Huesca St Philip of Adrianople St Philip of Fermo St Rufus of Egypt St Symmachus of Capua St Valerius of Langres St Verecundus of Verona — Martyrs of Heraclea – 4 saints: A group of four clerics in Heraclea (modern Marmara Ereglisi, Turkey) who were arrested in the persecutions of Diocletian. They were imprisoned, abused and ordered to turn over all the scriptures that they had hidden from authorities; they refused and were executed together. Martyrs. – Eusebius, Hermes, Philip and Severus. They were burned at the stake in 304 in Adrianople (modern Edirne, Turkey).
Martyrs of Adianople: • Blessed Alexander • Blessed Anna • Blessed Elisabeth • Blessed Glyceria • Blessed Heraclius • Blessed Theodota
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: • Blessed Álvaro Ibáñez Lázaro • Blessed Andrés Zarraquino Herrero • Blessed Estanislao García Obeso • Blessed Germán Caballero Atienza • Blessed José Menéndez García • Blessed Josep Casas Lluch • Blessed Luis Minguel Ferrer • Blessed Pedro Lorente Vicente • Blessed Victoriano Ibañez Alonso
Thought for the Day – 20 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” “Give Us this Day Our Daily Bread”
“Note that each one of us prays for “Our Daily Bread” not for “MY Daily Bread.” We should not ask only for our own requirements but, for those of all our fellowmen, as well.
There are many poverty-stricken people for whom bread is very scarce. We should pray especially for them and should be prepared to share our bread with those who have none. Both charity and justice demand this of us. Let us ask, moreover, only for our necessary requirements, not for wealth and luxury. Anything superfluous which we possess does not belong to us but, to the poor. “Give that which remains,” the Gospel commands, “as alms” (Lk 11:41). Let us remember that, whether we are rich or poor, we are all one great family. Our love for one another should not be merely theoretical but practical, otherwise we are not sincere Christians!”
Quote/s of the Day – 21 October – Readings: Romans 6: 19-23; Psalm 1: 1-4 and 6; Luke 12: 49-53
“I have come to set the earth on fire!”
Luke 12:49
“Do whatever he tells you.”
John 2:5
“His action is preceded by the beaming rays of His light and knowledge. He comes with the truth of the real Protector; for He comes to save, to lead, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console, to illumine in the first place the mind of the person who receives Him and through that person‘s works, the minds of others.”
St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Father and Doctor of the Church
“A person who wishes to become the Lord’s disciple must repudiate a human obligation, however honourable it may appear, if it slows us, ever so slightly, in giving the wholehearted obedience we owe to God.”
St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
“ True spiritual life consists in this: that man keep his eyes on God all the time, long for nothing but for God, keep nothing in mind but God, begin every single action,in God’s name and direct it to Him.”
St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539)
“O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee, for I fear all things, from my own weakness, but I hope for all things, from Thy Goodness.”
One Minute Reflection – 21 October – – “Month of the Most Holy Rosary” – Readings: Romans 6: 19-23; Psalm 1: 1-4 and 6; Luke 12: 49-53
“I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already kindled!” – Luke 12:49
REFLECTIUON – “He also said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth and would that it were already kindled!” These flaming words from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ reveal the malice of sin. He also reveals the excellence of good actions performed for the glory of God and His Christ. Then we are ready for the Baptism of water, which is a type of the Cross, death, burial and resurrection from the dead.
One who is prepared to be Baptised in the Name of the Holy Spirit, is one who has been born anew, who undergoes a change of residence, habits and associates, so that, walking by the Spirit, he may be ready to be Baptised in the name of the Son and to put on Christ.” – St Basil the Great (329-379) Bishop of Caesarea, Father & Doctor one of the original 4 Doctors of the Eas(Concerning Baptism)
PRAYER – Father, grant that we may be, bearers of Christ Jesus, Your Son. Allow us to fill with Your light the world around us. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit to carry out our mission of living and following the path of Jesus, our Lord. Help us to understand, that by Your grace Your gifts are Your blessings, to be shared with others. Fill us with Your Spirit of love to give glory to You in loving all and preaching by our love. Nourish in us the desire to go forth as the bearers of Your Son fearless and gentle, loving and merciful. Make us true Christ-bearers, that in seeing us only He is visible. Amen (The Christopher Prayer – Unknown)
O Holy Spirit of God By Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (1466-1536) (Fr Erasmus of Rotterdam)
O Holy Spirit of God with Your holy breath, You purify the hearts and minds of humankind, comforting them, when they are in sorrow, leading them, aright when they have gone astray, kindling them, when their hearts are cold, reconciling them, whem they are at variance and enriching them, with Your many gifts. By Your working, all things live. We make our prayer to You, maintain and day by day, increase the gifts which You have granted us, so that with Your Light before us and within us, we may pass through this world, without stumbling and without straying. Who with the Father and the Son, are One God, now and forever. Amen
Fr Erasmus of Rotterdam was a Dutch philosopher and Catholic theologian who is considered one of the greatest scholars of the northern Renaissance. As a Catholic Priest, he was an important figure in classical scholarship who wrote in a pure Latin style.
Saint of the Day – St Wendelin (c 554-617) Pilgrim, Hermit, Monk and Abbot. Born in c 554 in Scotland and died in 617 at Tholey, Germany of natural causes. Patronages – country folk, herdsmen. Also known as – Wendelin of Trier, Wendel, Wendolinus, Wendelinus. Additional Memorial – 22 October in the Diocese of Trier in Germany.
There is very little definite information about this saint; his earliest biographies (two in Latin and two in German), did not appear until after 1417. The name “Wendelin” means “wanderer” or “pilgrim” in Old High German.
Wendelin was a Prince, the son of a Scottish King. After a piously spent youth he secretly left his home on a pilgrimage to Rome. On his way back he settled as a Hermit in Westricht in the Diocese of Trier.
When a great landowner criticised him for his “idle” life, he entered this man’s service as a herdsman. Later a miracle obliged the landowner to allow him to return to his solitude. Wendelin then established a company of Hermits from which sprang the Benedictine Abbey of Tholey. He was consecrated Abbot about 597, according to the later legends. Tholey was apparently founded as a collegiate body about 630.
The story is told that when Wendelin was working as a herdsman he often took his flock to a mountain to pray there in silence. On one of these occasions, his master came upon him there and was angry because he could not imagine that Wendelin had time to get the flock home before sunset. However, when the master arrived home he discovered the shepherd and his flock already there. Realising that this was a miracle from God he granted Wendelin his greatest desire and built him his own Hermit’s cell in the vicinity of the farm.
Wendelin was buried in his cell and a Chapel was built over the grave and the small Town of Sankt Wendel grew up nearby. The Saint’s intercession was considered powerful in times of pestilence and contagious diseases among cattle. When, in 1320, a pestilence was halted through the intercession of Wendelin, Baldwin, Archbishop of Trier had the Chapel rebuilt. Baldwin’s successor, Bohemond II, built the present beautiful Gothic Church, dedicated in 1360, to which the Wendelin’s relics were transferred. Since 1506 they have rested in a stone sarcophagus.
The exposed relics of St Wendelin at Wendalinusbasilika St Wendelin during the 650th Anniversary of the consecration of the Basilica.
Wendelin is the patron saint of country people and herdsmen and is still greatly venerated especially in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and South Africa.
Madonna del Rosario / Our Lady of the Rosary, Noepoli, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy – 21 October
The Church of Maria del Rosario, built in 1830, is located in a farmhouse in Noepoli. It has one nave and a marble altar along with a Statue of Our Lady of the Rosary from the seventeenth century and a wooden Crucifix from the sixteenth century.
The community of Noepoli prepares for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary with a Rosary Novena that begins on 12 October in the Churche. On 20 October, the Holy Rosary of the afternoon is followed by a prayer vigil in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary. The townspeople gather on 21 October for a procession around the village. . The beautiful festa continues with local musicians and dancing and finishes with spectacular fireworks.
St Agatho the Hermit St Asterius of Périgord St Asterius of Rome St Berthold of Parma St Celina of Meaux
Bl Hilarion of Moglena St Hugh of Ambronay Bl Imana of Loss Bl Iulianus Nakaura St John of Bridlington St Letizia St Maurontus of Marseilles St Malchus of Syria
St Petrus Yu Tae-Ch’ol St Pontius de Clariana St Raymond of Granada Bl Sancho of Aragon Bl Severinus of Bordeaux Bl Tuda of Lindisfarne Bl Viator of Lyons St William of Granada St William of Montreal St Zaira St Zoticus of Nicomedia — Martyrs of Nicaea – 279 saints:
Martyrs of Nicomedia – 3 saints: Caius of Nicomedia Dasius of Nicomedia Zoticus of Nicomedia
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: • Blessed Genaro Fueyo Castañon • Blessed Isidro Fernández Cordero • Blessed Segundo Alonso González
Saint Ursula and Companions: (Died c 238) Legendary princess, the daughter of a Christian British king and Saint Daria. She travelled Europe in company of either 11 or 11,000 fellow maidens; the 11,000 number probably resulted from a misreading of the term “11M” which indicated 11 Martyrs, but which a copyist took for a Roman numeral. Ursula and her company were tortured to death to get them to renounce their faith, and old paintings of them show many of the women being killed in various painful ways. Namesake for the Ursuline Order, founded for the education of young Catholic girls and women. There are other saints closely associated with Ursula and her story – travelling companions who were martyred with her
Antonia of Cologne Cesarius of Cologne Cyriacus of Cologne Daria Fiolanus of Lucca Ignatius of Cologne James of Antioch Mauritius of Cologne Pontius of Cologne Sulpitius of Ravenna Vincent of Cologne Travelling companion, but escaped the massacre: • Cunera led by a dove to the lost tomb of Ursula: • Cunibert of Cologne
Thought for the Day – 20 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” The First Part of the “Our Father”
“Our second aspiration is: “Thy kingdom come.” It is true, that God reigns over Heaven, earth and the infernal regions. Everything is subject to His Will – the sun, the stars, the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea and the tiniest insects carry out His commands. Even the demons of Hell, who He has condemned to eternal punishment, are obedient to His Will. But what about the human race?
Man possesses the precious but dangerous privilege of free will. which he has power to abuse by rebelling against God. We should pray that the sovereignty of God may be triumphant in all hearts, beginning with our own and, that all men may willingly subject themselves to His commandments and to His grace. This is the only way in which they can find peace. “Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).
We should pray, moreover, for the Church, which is the kingdom of God upon earth. We should pray for her peaceful victory over her enemies, who persecute her and impede her work for the salvation of souls. We should love the Church even as we love Jesus Christ, for the Church is His handiwork and the fruit of His Precious Blood.”
Quote/s of the Day – 20 October – “Month of the Most Holy Rosary” – Readings: Romans 6: 12-18; Psalm 124: 1-8; Luke 12: 39-48
“You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Luke 12:40
“Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Matthew 24:13
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”
Mark 1:3
“The business of a Christian is nothing else, than to be ever preparing for death.”
St Irenaeus (130-202) Father of the Church
“We must make our way towards eternity, never regarding what men think of us, or of our actions, studying only to please God.”
St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)
“If we wish to make any progress in the service of God, we must begin everyday of our life, with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves, in the presence of God, as much as possible and have no other view or end, in all our actions but the divine honour.”
St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
“Man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.”
One Minute Reflection – 20 October – “Month of the Most Holy Rosary” – Readings: Romans 6: 12-18; Psalm 124: 1-8; Luke 12: 39-48
“You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” – Luke 12:40
REFLECTION – “The heart’s most effective medicine is patience. According to the words of Solomon: “The gentle man is the physician of the heart.” (Prv 14:30 LXX) So true is this that it uproots not only all the vices of anger, sadness, acedia, vainglory and pride but also that of wantonness, along with them. For, as Solomon says: “In long-suffering is the patience of kings.” (Prv 25:15 LXX) Whoever is always meek and tranquil, is not inflamed by the disturbance of anger, nor consumed by the anguish of acedia and sadness, nor distracted by the emptiness of vainglory, nor lifted up by the swelling of pride. For, “there is much peace for those who love the name of the Lord and for them there is no stumbling block.” (Ps 118:165 Vg) Therefore, it is declared with good reason: “Better is the one who is patient, than the one who is strong and the one who restrains his anger, than the one who captures a city.” (Prv 16:32 LXX)
Until we deserve to acquire this firm and perpetual peace, we shall inevitably be assailed by numerous attacks and frequently repeat this verse with groaning and tears: “I have become wretched and I am afflicted beyond measure. All the day I went about mournfully for my loins are filled with illusions.” (Ps 37:7-8 Vg) … Until a person arrives at this state of purity, he has to be trained frequently by these discrepancies until, confirmed by the grace of God in the purity he is seeking, he is worthy to say in truth: “I have waited, I have waited for the Lord and he turned to me, he heard my plea. He drew me out of the pit of wretchedness and from the mirey bog. He set my feet upon a rock and guided my steps.” (Ps 39:2-3 Vg.) ” – St John Cassian (c 360-435) Church Father, – Founder of Monasteries, Disciple of St John Chrysostom (Sixth conference on chastity; SC 54).
PRAYER – Holy Father, grant me an operative faith, a faith that will move mountains. Enlighten my soul with Your Light, Goodness, Power and Wisdom. Let my faith be an image of You by lively deeds and love and by conforming myself to Your Will in all things. Blessed Mother, you longed only to serve the God of all, teach us by your prayer, to serve God alone with upright hearts and fight by the Truth against all tyranny and evilh, through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Morning Offering By St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)
My God, just as I wish to love nothing more than You, so I wish to live, only for You. I offer You all my thoughts, all my words, all my actions and all my sufferings of this day; please bestow Your holy blessing, upon them all. Amen
AnaStpaul 
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