Lord, strengthen us!
By St Augustine (354-430)
Doctor of Grace
Blessed are all Your saints, my God and King!
Who have through travail and in peace of soul
all traveled within the ship with You,
the tempestuous sea of mortality and have,
at last, made the desired port of peace and of felicity!
O, cast a gracious eye upon us who are
in our dangerous voyage still!
Remember, succour us in our distress and
think of those who lie exposed to the rough storms
of troubles and temptations!
Strengthen our weakness in Your strength,
that valiantly we may do Your will in this spiritual battle.
Help us against our own negligence,
our cowardice and defend us
from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts.
We are exceedingly frail and indisposed
to every virtuous and gallant undertaking.
Grant, O Lord, that we may bring our vessel safe to shore,
into our desired haven, Lord. Amen
Saint of the Day – 25 April – St Mark the Evangelist (1st century -martyred 25 April 68 at Alexandria, Egypt) Evangelist, Martyr, Missionary, Preacher, Teacher, friend and assistant to St Peter, St Paul, cousin of St Barnabas – also known as John Mark. Patronages: – against unrepentance, against insect bites, Lawyers, notaries, prisoners, lions, glaziers and stained glass artists, of Egypt, Iona Islands, Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro, Italy, Diocese of, Arica, Chile, Diocese of, Cortona, Italy, Diocese of Infanta, Philippines, Prelature of, Venice, Florida, Diocese of, 45 Cities – Attributes: lion, winged lion, bishop on a throne decorated with lions, man helping Venetian sailors, man holding a book with pax tibi Marce written on it, man holding a palm and book, man with a book or scroll accompanied by a winged lion, man with a halter around his neck, man writing or holding his gospel, rescuing Christian slaves from Saracens, winged lion. Major shrine – Venice, Italy.
Interior of St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice. View through the central nave towards transept and apse. Mosaics, begun in the 11th century, cover more than 4000 sq.m. Iconostasis with 14 statues of Saint Mary and the apostles.
St. Mark was an evangelist, or Gospel writer. In fact, he was the pioneer in Gospel writing. His is the shortest and the oldest of the Gospels. Little is known of Mark except from the New Testament. He was not one of the twelve apostles but was a member of the first Christian community. Mark had firsthand experience of the early Church and apostolic life. He was a traveling companion and assistant of Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. Something happened to Mark on that journey, perhaps homesickness, so he returned to Jerusalem. The incident caused a quarrel between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas, Mark’s cousin, was sympathetic toward Mark but Paul would not hear of Mark accompanying them again. Later Paul and Mark must have been reconciled, because when Paul wrote to Timothy during his final imprisonment, he asked for Mark’s help.
BAT52241 St. Mark the Evangelist (copy of a painting by Fra Bartolommeo) by Gabbiani, Antonio Domenico (1652-1726)
Museo di San Marco dell’Angelico, Florence, Italy
Italian, out of copyright
Like another Gospel writer Luke, Mark was not one of the 12 apostles. We cannot be certain whether he knew Jesus personally. Some scholars feel that the evangelist is speaking of himself (so he then did know Jesus) when describing the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane: “Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked” (Mark 14:51-52). Mark’s Gospel was a great contribution to the Church. It included oral and written tradition concerning the words and deeds of Jesus. Mark probably secured some of his material from St. Peter. He shows Jesus as the suffering Son of God. Mark knew that to accept the Risen Jesus meant to come to terms with the cross. Jesus was glorified because he willingly allowed himself to suffer death for our salvation. Mark writes that anyone who wishes to follow Jesus must accept the cross.
Mark wrote to proclaim the Good News to a community of both Jewish and Gentile Christians. His Gospel is direct and simple to read. He speaks to Christians about Jesus, who understands their difficulties and sufferings and will one day bring them to share with him eternal joy and glory.
Traditionally Mark is thought to have been founder and bishop of the church of Alexandria, Egypt, where he was martyred.
Over the years artists have given a symbol to each of the evangelists. Mark’s symbol is a winged lion because his Gospel begins with the story of John the Baptist who, like a roaring lion, called people to repent. The lion derives from Mark’s description of John the Baptist as a “voice of one crying out in the desert” (Mark 1:3), which artists compared to a roaring lion. The wings come from the application of Ezekiel’s vision of four winged creatures to the evangelists.
St Mark the Evangelist (Feast)
—
St Agathopodes of Antioch
Bl Andrés Solá Molist
St Anianus of Alexandria
Bl Antonio Pérez Lários
St Callista of Syracuse
St Clarentius of Vienne
St Ermin of Lobbes
St Evodius of Syracuse
St Franca Visalta
St Giovanni Piamarta
St Heribaldus of Auxerre
St Hermogenes of Syracuse
Bl José Trinidad Rangel y Montaño
St Kebius
St Macaille
St Macedonius
St Mario Borzaga
St Pasicrate of Mesia
St Paul Thoj Xyooj
Pedro de San Jose Betancur
Phaebadius of Agen
Philo of Antioch
Robert of Syracuse
Bl Robert Anderton
Stefano of Antioch
St Valenzio of Mesia
Bl William Marsden
—
Martyrs of Yeoju – 3 saints: Three Christian laymen martyred together in the apostolic vicariate of Korea. 25 April 1801 in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
They were Beatified15 August 2014 by Pope Francis
• Ioannes Won Gyeong-do
• Marcellinus Choe Chang-ju
• Martinus Yi Jung-bae
Novena to St Joseph the Worker- Day Three – 24 April
“It is only by confronting the daily demans of work that we deepen our interior dynamism….Work itself is meant to become a spiritual act and this happens when it is experienced as being at the service of the quest for the Infinite.”
Msgr Lorenzo Albacete
Let us Pray: DAY THREE
Glorious St. Joseph,
model of all those who are devoted to labour,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,
putting the call of duty above my many sins;
to work with thankfulness and joy,
considering it an honour to employ and develop,
by means of labour,
the gifts received from God;
to work with order,
peace, prudence and patience,
never surrendering to weariness or difficulties;
to work, above all,
with purity of intention,
and with detachment from self,
having always death before my eyes
and the account which I must render of time lost,
of talents wasted,
of good omitted,
of vain complacency in success
so fatal to the work of God.
I offer to you today my special intention for this novena
(mention your intention)
knowing that by your powerful intercession
you will assist me and all workers,
especially those seeking employment.
All for Jesus,
all for Mary,
all after thy example,
O Patriarch Joseph.
Such shall be my motto in life and death.
Many saints, like St Fidelis of Sigmaringen, realise that they are wasting their time in the midst of greed and foolish ambition and decide on another course. Their gifts were turned to doing good and to this they devote the whole of their lives. Sometimes, it is often easily apparent, that a change is demanded in our lives – feeling miserable, unsatisfied, uneasy, worried by the greed of the world, it’s lukewarmness or apathy and more! Courage now is needed and that courage comes from he grace of God in prayer. ‘You become what you love’ – what is it that you love?
And so I say to you, you are Peter
and upon this rock I will build my church
and the gates of the netherworld
shall not prevail against it……….Matthew 16:18
REFLECTION – “O Catholic faith, how solid, how strong you are! How deeply rooted, how firmly founded on a solid rock! Heaven and earth will pass away but you can never pass away. From the beginning the world opposed you but you mightily triumphed over everything. This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. It has subjected powerful kings to the rule of Christ; it has bound nations to His service. What made the holy apostles and martyrs endure fierce agony and bitter torments, except faith and especially faith in the resurrection? What is it that today makes true followers of Christ cast luxuries aside, leave pleasures behind and endure difficulties and pain? It is living faith that expresses itself through love. It is this that makes us put aside the goods of the present in the hope of future goods. It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.”…………………St Fidelis of Sigmaringen
PRAYER – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we praise You and give You glory: we bless You for calling us to be Your holy people. Remain in our hearts and guide us in our love and service. Help us to let our light shine before others and lead them to the way of faith.
Holy Trinity of love, we praise You now and for ever. St Fidelis man of courage and true faith, pray for us, amen!
Prayer in front of the Crucifix of San Damiano
Francis used to recite this prayer already in 1205-1206, during the period of his vocational discernment, when he would visit the small abandoned church of San Damiano, where there was a Byzantine Crucifix which is nowadays venerated in the Basilica of Santa Chiara in Assisi.
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me true faith,
certain hope
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge, Lord,
that I may carry out
Your holy and true command. Amen
Saint of the Day – 24 April – St Fidelis of Sigmaringen OFM Cap (1577-1622) Priest of the Capuchins of the Friar’s Minor and Martyr, Lawyer, Philosopher, Teacher, Apostle of Eucharistic Adoration and charity – Major Shrine at the Capuchin Friary of Weltkirchen (Feldkirch), Austria, the image below.
St Fidelis was born as Mark Rey in 1577 in Sigmaringen, a town in modern-day Germany, then under the Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. His father’s name was John Rey. He studied law and philosophy at the University of Freiburg. Mark ultimately earned the degree of Doctor of Law and subsequently taught philosophy at this University,. During his time as a student, he did not drink any alcoholic beverages and wore a hair-shirt in penance for his own and the sins of those around him. He was known for his modesty, meekness and chastity.
In 1604, Mark accompanied, as preceptor (teacher-mentor), three young Swabian gentlemen on their travels through the principal parts of Europe. During six years of travel, he attended Mass very frequently. In every town they came to, he visited the hospitals and churches, passed several hours on his knees in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and was generous to the poor, sometimes giving them the very clothes off his back.
Upon his return, he practiced law at Colmar, in Alsace where he came to be known as the ‘poor man‘s lawyer’. He scrupulously forbore all invectives, detractions and whatever might affect the reputation of any adversary. Disenchanted with the evils associated with his profession, he was determined to enter the religious life as a member of the Capuchin friars.
As soon as Fidelis finished his course of theology, he was immediately employed in preaching and in hearing confessions. After becoming guardian of the Capuchin friary in Weltkirchen, Feldkirch (in present-day Austria), many residents of the town and neighbouring places were reformed by his zealous labours and several Calvinists were converted. The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith commissioned Fidelis to preach in the Graubünden region of eastern Switzerland. Eight other Capuchin friars were to be his assistants and they laboured in this mission under his direction.
The Calvinists of that territory, being incensed at his success in converting their brethren, loudly threatened Fidelis’ life and he prepared himself for martyrdom. Fidelis and his companions entered into Prättigau, a small district of Graubünden, in 1622, on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6. The effects of his ardent zeal, where the Bishop of Coire sent a lengthy and full account to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, enraged the Calvinists in that province.
On 24 April 1622, Fidelis made his confession, celebrated Mass and then preached at Grüsch. At the end of his sermon, which he had delivered with more than ordinary zeal, suddenly he stood silently, with his eyes fixed upon Heaven, in ecstasy. He foretold his death to several persons in the clearest terms and began signing his letters, “P. Fidelis, prope diem esca vermium” (“Father Fidelis, in days ahead to become food for worms“). After the service at Grüsch he and several companions travelled to Seewis. His companions noted that he was particularly cheerful.
On 24 April, in a campaign organised by the Habsburgs, Fidelis was preaching under protection of some Austrian imperial soldiers in the Church at Seewis with the aim of re-convert the people of Seewis to Catholicism. During the sermon, his listeners were called “to arms” by the Calvinist agitators outside. Some of the people went to face the Austrian troops outside the Church. Fidelis had been persuaded, by the remaining Catholics, to immediately flee with the Austrian troops out of Seewis, which he did but then returned alone to Grüsch. On his way back he was confronted by 20 Calvinist soldiers who demanded, unsuccessfully,, that he renounce the Catholic faith and when he refused, they subsequently murdered him.
A local account:
From Grüsch he went to preach at Seewis, where, with great energy, he exhorted the Catholics to constancy in the faith. After a Calvinist had discharged his musket at him in the Church, the Catholics entreated him to leave the place. He answered that death was his gain and his joy, and that he was ready to lay down his life in God’s cause. On his road back to Grüsch, he met twenty Calvinist soldiers with a minister at their head. They called him a false prophet and urged him to embrace their sect. He answered: “I am sent to you to confute, not to embrace your heresy. The Catholic religion is the faith of all ages, I fear not death.”One of them beat him down to the ground by a stroke on the head with his backsword. Fidelis rose again on his knees and stretching forth his arms in the form of a cross, said with a feeble voice “Pardon my enemies, O Lord: blinded by passion they know not what they do. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. Mary, Mother of God, succour me!.” Another sword stroke clove his skull and he fell to the ground and lay in a pool of his own blood. The soldiers, not content with this, added many stab wounds to his body with their long knives and hacked-off his left leg, as they said, to punish him for his many journeys into those parts to preach to them.
It is said that a Catholic woman lay concealed near the place of Fidelis’ martyrdom as the saint was slain. After the soldiers had left, she came out to assess the incident and found the martyr’s eyes open, fixed on the heavens. He was buried by Catholics the next day.
The rebels were soon after defeated by the imperial troops, an event which the martyr had foretold them. The Protestant minister who had participated in Fidelis’ martyrdom, was converted by this circumstance, made a public abjuration of Calvinism and was received into the Catholic Church.
After six months, the martyr’s body was found to be incorrupt but his head and left arm were separated from his body. The body parts were then placed into two reliquaries, one sent to the Cathedral of Coire, at the behest of the bishop and laid under the High Altar; the other was placed in the Capuchin church at Weltkirchen, Feldkirch, Austria.
St Fidelis was Beatified on 24 March 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII and Canonised on 29 June 1746, Rome by Pope Benedict XIV
St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (Optional Memorial)
Our Lady of Bonaria: Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the form of a statue of Mary and the Christ Child that was washed up at a Mercedarian monastery near Cagliari, Italy on 25 April 1370, apparently from a shipwreck the night before. Legend says that the locals tried to open the crate it was in, but only one of the Mercedarian monks could get the it open. Patron of Sardinia, Italy
Our Lady of Buenos Aires
—
St Alexander of Lyon
St Anthimos of Nicomedia
St Authairius of La Ferté
St Benedetto Menni
St Bova of Rheims
St Deodatus of Blois
St Diarmaid of Armagh
St Doda of Rheims
St Dyfnan of Anglesey
St Egbert of Rathemigisi
St Eusebius of Lydda
St Gregory of Elvira
St Honorius of Brescia
St Ivo of Huntingdonshire
St Leontius of Lydda
St Longinus of Lydda
St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
St Mary of Cleophas
St Mary Salome
St Mellitus of Canterbury
St Neon of Lydda
St Sabas the Goth of Rome
St Tiberio of Pinerolo
St William Firmatus
—
Mercedarian Martyrs of Paris
Work positively affects the worker’s family, the whole of society and the worker personally. “It forms the person in the process of transforming things; it humanises and spiritualises the person in the process of modifying material objects. And finally, it draws men together in the purusit of a goal that is visible to all and in the construction of the world in which they are called to live” (Louis Lavelle).
Thus when a worker offers to God not only the firstfruits of his labour but his labour itself, human labour “can become a great liturgy of worship” (M D Philippe).
Day Two
Let us Pray:
Glorious St Hoseph,
foster-father and protector of Jesus Christ,
spouse of the blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God,
powerful protector of the Holy Church,
to you do I raise my heart and implore your powerful intercession.
You gave yourself completely to the Saviour,
it was cause for joy to pray, to work, to sacrifice yourself,
to suffer, to die for Him.
You were unknown in this world even though Jesus knew you very well,
He would look at your simple and hidden life with love.
We are called to contribute by our diligient industry
to the unfolding of the Creator’s plan in history.
Protect the rights of all workers.
Enable people to find work that befits their dignity.
Do not let those who are unemployed become discouraged
but them them in finding fitting employment.
May I too approach my work as an act of worship.
United in your powerful intercession,
I offer you my intentions
(make your intention)
I commend to your fatherly solicitude this specific task.
I am placing it in your hands.
I ask for the grace to never separate myself from God,
to know Christ ant love Him even more and His blessed Mother,
and to always live in the presence of God,
to do all for His glory and the good of other souls
and one day to reach the beatific vision of God
to praise Him eternally with you. Amen.
The Christian hero is not the slayer of dragons or the knight who wields the sword.
The Christian hero is the saint, although saints like St Joan of Arc, could and did wield the sword too.
St George, whose Memorial it is today, got lost in legends and folklore but he was a real soldier who gave his life in witness to Christ. He was a Martyr for Christ – the ultimate act of heroism. If only we remembered him correctly and with honour, for this martyrdom for the One who saved us!
Martyrdom of Saint George, c.1564 – Paolo Veronese
St George pray for us and we pray that your memory may be restored!
Quote/s of the Dat – 23 April – Divine Mercy Sunday
“There is nothing more man needs than Divine Mercy – that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights to the holiness of God.”
“When we go before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament we represent the one in the world who is in most need of God’s Mercy.” We “Stand in behalf of the one in the world who does not know Christ and who is farthest away from God and we bring down upon their soul the Precious Blood of The Lamb.”
One Minute Reflection – 23 April
Octave and Divine Mercy Sunday
DAILY MEDITATION: Kindle the faith of your people and show us Your Mercy!
But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were “no people” but now you are God’s people; you “had not received mercy” but now you have received mercy………………..1 Peter 2:9-10
REFLECTION – “How much the world is in need of the mercy of God today! In every continent, from the depths of human suffering, a cry for mercy seems to rise. In those places where hatred and the thirst for revenge are overwhelming, where war brings suffering and the death of innocents, one needs the grace of mercy to pacify the minds and the hearts and make peace spring forth. In those places where there is less respect for life and human dignity, one needs the merciful love of God, in whose light we see the ineffable value of every single human being. Mercy is needed to ensure that every injustice may find its solution in the splendour of truth. …..As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is a love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!”…………St John Paul
PRAYER – “Lord, who reveal the Father’s love by Your death and Resurrection, we believe in You and confidently repeat to You today: Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world. Amen.” – St John Paul (During his last journey to Poland in August of 2002) St Adalbert of Prague pray for us!
YOU, WHO ARE RICH IN MERCY
By St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)
Doctor magnificus (Magnificent Doctor);
Doctor Marianus (Marian Doctor)
My prayer is but a cold affair, Lord,
because my love burns with so small a flame
but You, Who are rich in mercy
will not mete out to them Your gifts
according to the dullness of my zeal
but as Your kindness is above all human love
so let your eagerness to hear me
be greater than the feeling in my prayers.
Do this for them and with them, Lord,
so that they may speed according to Your will
and thus ruled and protected by You,
always and everywhere,
may they come at last to glory and eternal rest,
through You who are the living and reigning God,
through all ages. Amen
Saint of the Day – 23 April – St Adalbert of Prague (c 956-997) Bishop and Martyr, Missionary – also known as Adalbert of Praha, Apostle of Bohemia, Apostle of the Prussians, Apostle of the Slavs – Patronages – of Poland, Hungary, Bohemia, Czech Republic, Archdiocese of Prague, Czech Republic, Prussia.
St Adalbert was born circa 956, in modern-day Czech Republic, with the given name of Vojtech. He came from a large, noble family and was one of seven sons to Prince Slavnik. Vojtech survived a serious illness as a child and was consecrated for service to God. He studied in Magdeburg, under St Adalbert of Magdeburg and Vojtech took his mentor’s name at his confirmation. The younger St Adalbert returned home and was Ordained a Priest and soon became Bishop of Prague at the age of 27. Adalbert was consecrated as the Bishop of Prague just months after becoming a priest. “It is an easy thing to wear the mitre and a cross,” Adalbert reflected, “but it is a most dreadful circumstance to have an account to give of a bishopric to the Judge of the living and the dead.”
Bohemia was still a mostly pagan area at the time and Adalbert condemned their practices of polygamy, idolatry and slavery. He tried to protect a woman accused of adultery but was unsuccessful and the woman was killed. St Adalbert excommunicated the murderers and was soon forced to exile in Hungary. He was welcomed by King Boleslaw I and made bishop of Gnesen. Here, he baptised St Stephen of Hungary and converted many pagans.
St Adalbert eventually resigned from the See to become a missionary in modern-day Poland. He converted many and angered pagan priests in the process. St Adalbert was Martyred in April of 997 and the king paid his weight in gold to have the body returned.
A few years after his Martyrdom, Adalbert was Canonised as St Adalbert of Prague. His life was written in Vita Sancti Adalberti Pragensis by various authors, the earliest being traced to imperial Aachen and the Bishop of Liège, Notger von Lüttich, although it was previously assumed that the Roman monk John Canaparius wrote the first Vita in 999. Another famous biographer of St Adalbert was St Bruno of Querfurt who wrote a hagiography of him in 1001-4.
Notably, the Přemyslid rulers of Bohemia initially refused to ransom St Adalbert’s body from the Prussians who murdered him and therefore it was purchased by Poles. This fact may be explained by the Saint belonging to the Slavniks family which was rival to the Přemyslids. Thus St Adalbert’s bones were preserved in Gniezno, which assisted Boleslaus I of Poland in increasing Polish political and diplomatic power in Europe.
Silver coffin of St Adalbert, Cathedral in Gniezno
According to Bohemian accounts, in 1039 the Bohemian Duke Břetislav I looted the bones of St Adalbert from Gniezno in a raid and translated them to Prague. According to Polish accounts, however, he stole the wrong relics, namely those of St Gaudentius, while the Poles concealed St Adalbert’s relics and consequently remain in Gniezno. In 1127 his severed head, which was not in the original purchase according to Roczniki Polskie, was discovered and translated to Gniezno. In 1928, one of the arms of St Adalbert, which Bolesław I had given to Holy Roman Emperor Otto III in 1000, was added to the bones preserved in Gniezno. Therefore, today St Adalbert has two elaborate shrines in the Prague Cathedral and Royal Cathedral of Gniezno, each of which claims to possess his relics, but which of their bones are his authentic relics, is unknown. For example, pursuant to both claims the Saint has two skulls. The one in Gniezno was stolen in 1923. However in the 1970s the relics in Prague, below, were examined by anthropologists and confirmed as belonging to St Adalbert.
The Relics of St Adalbert in Prague Cathedral
The Shrine of St Adalbert in St Vitus Cathedral, Prague
The massive bronze doors of Gniezno Cathedral, dating from around 1175, are decorated with eighteen reliefs of scenes from the Saint’s life. They are the only Romanesque ecclesiastical doors in Europe depicting a cycle illustrating the life of a saint and therefore are a precious relic documenting Adalbert’s martyrdom.
23 April 1997 was the one thousandth anniversary of St Adalbert’s martyrdom. It was commemorated in Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia and other nations. Representatives of Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Evangelical churches travelled on a pilgrimage to the Saint’s tomb located in Gniezno. St Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral and celebrated a Liturgy there in which heads of seven European nations and approximately one million faithful participated.
A ten-meter cross was erected near the village of Beregovoe (formerly Tenkitten), Kaliningrad Oblast where St Adalbert is thought to have been martyred by the Prussians.
St Adalbert in Prague
Monument to St Adalbert and his brother Gaudentiu in the Czech Republic
2nd Sunday of Easter (2017) – DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY and the OCTAVE DAY of EASTER
St Adalbert of Prague (Optional Memorial) – BRESKI VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqz2ajDC8nY
St George (Optional Memorial)
—
Achilleus of Vienne
Bl Adalbert III of Salzburg
Felix of Vienne
Fortunatus of Vienna
George of San Giorio
Gerard of Orchimont
Bl Gerard of Toul
Bl Giles of Assisi
Bl Giles of Saumur
Bl Giorgio di Suelli
Bl Helen del Cavalanti
Ibar of Meath
Bl Maria Gabriela Sagheddu
Marolus of Milan
Pusinna of Champagne
Bl Teresa Maria of the Cross
—
French Mercedarian Martyrs
Martyrs of Africa: A group of Christians murdered for their faith in northern Africa. Little information has survived but their names. The ones we know are – Catulinus, Chorus, Faustinus, Felicis, Felix, Nabors, Plenus, Salunus, Saturninus, Silvius, Solutus, Theodora, Theodorus, Theon, Ursus, Valerius, Venustus, Victorinus, Victurus, Vitalis
“Now all things have been filled with light,
both heaven and earth and those beneath the earth;
so let all creation sing Christ’s rising,
by which it is established.”
One Minute Reflection – 22 April – Seventh Day in the Easter Octave
DAILY MEDITATION: “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!”
“He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy becasue they had refusd to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to the, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.’………….Mark 16:14-15
REFLECTION – “The power of faith is enormous. It is so great that it not only saves the believer: thanks to one person’s faith others are saved also. The paralytic at Capernaum did not have faith. But the men who brought him to Jesus and let him down through the roof had it. The soul of the sick man was ill as well as his body. That is made clear in the Gospel: “And when Jesus saw their faith he said…, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and go home'”. The Gospel does not speak of “his” faith but of “their” faith. The stretcher-bearers believed and the paralytic had the benefit of being healed because of it. (Mark 2:1-11) Then there is the death of Lazarus. Four days had passed. His dead body was already decomposing. How could one who had been dead for so many days believe and himself ask for the Deliverer? He could not possibly do so but his sisters provided the faith for him. When they met the Lord, one sister fell down at his feet. He asked, “Where have you laid him?” The other sister said: “Lord, by this time there will be a bad smell”. Then the Lord said, “If you believe you will see the glory of God”. As if to say, “As regards faith, you must take the place of the dead man”. And the faith of the sisters succeeded in calling Lazarus back from the hereafter. (John 11:1-44). So if these two women by believing in place of the other were able to secure his resurrection, how much more certainly will you be able to secure it for yourself by your own faith in Jesus?
Perhaps your own faith is feeble. Nevertheless, the Lord who is love will stoop down to you, provided only you are penitent and can say sincerely from the depths of your soul: “Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief”. (Mark 9:23)……………………..The Power of Faith: St Cyril of Jerusalem (c 315-386) Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – Loving Father, I believe that You love me. I ask you to watch over me and let me feel the love You shower on me.
I have been born again in baptism and long for the undying life You offer me. Strengthen my faith and help me to share this gift of faith
You have bestowed on me. Amen
The Liturgical Memorial of St Joseph, the Worker (1 May) was established by Venerable Pope Pius XII (d.1958), to highlight the importance of work and of the presence of Christ and the Church in the working world. It provides an occasion to reflect on – and witness to – the “Gospel of Work.” In a particular way St Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, stands as Patron of all workers and craftsmen, revered as a singular model. St John Paul, in his encyclical on human work, encourages us to live with the awareness that “work is a participation in God’s activity” – an awareness that “ought to permeate….even the most ordinary everyday activities.” By our labour and personal industry, we “are unfolding he Creator’s work…..and contributing to the realisation in history of the Divine plan.”
Let us pray:
~~This image is by Pietro Annigoni (1910-1988)~~
DAY ONE
Glorious St Joseph,
in your diligent daily labour,
you provided for the household
of the Holy Family.
Patron of all workers,
you model how work is a
participation in God’s own activity.
Our Lord Jesus Christ declared:
“My food is to do the will of him
who sent me and to accomplish his work.”
I pray for the sanctification of all human labour.
Through it, God never ceases to perfect
and govern the immense work of creation.
St Joseph, by your intercession,
protect the rights of all workers.
Enable all to find work that befits their dignity.
Do not let those who are unemployed become
discourage but aid them in obtainng fitting work.
United in your powerful help and intercession,
I offer you my own intentions……
(make your intention)
I pray you, dear St Joseph, through our Lord,
Jesus Christ, your dearly beloved foster Son,
in union with the Holy Spirit.
Amen
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA – DAY NINE – Easter Saturday – Seventh Day of the Octave
“Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,
and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
O Father, most merciful, Who,
in the beginning, created us;
Who, by the Passion of Your only begotten Son,
created us anew.
Work in us now, we beseech You, both to will
and to do your good pleasure!
And because we are weak
and can do no good thing on our own,
grant us Your grace.
Grant us your heavenly benediction,
that in whatever work we undertake
we may do all to Your honour and Your glory;
that being kept from sin,
daily increasing in good works,
so long as we live in the body,
we may always give service to You –
and after our departure,
we may receive pardon for all our sins,
attaining life eternal: through Him who,
with You and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns,
God, forevermore. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 22 April – St Theodore of Sykeon (Died c613) Bishop, Monk, Abbot, (born at Sykeon, Galaia, Bulgaria on an unknown date and died c613) – Patronages – of difficult marriages, for rain.
A native of Sykeon, in Galatia, Asia Minor, he was the son of a Byzantine imperial messenger and possibly of a prostitute. Entering a monastery in Jerusalem, he served there for many years until becoming abbot of a number of monastic institutions. He predicted the rise of Emperor Maurice and cured a royal prince of leprosy. About 590, he was appointed Bishop of Anastasiopol is, in Galatia.
St. Theodore spent his childhood at his mother’s inn that doubled as a brothel at Sykeon in Asia Minor. v When Theodore was about six years old a wonderful cook arrived at the inn who created so much business that his mother stopped her prostitution. The cook became Theodore’s spiritual director, teaching him to visit churches, to pray and fast, and to use the sacraments.
In his teens Theodore lived as a hermit in a cave near Sykeon. Then he shut himself up in a mountainous cave to practice extreme mortification. But Theodore also became well known for serving his neighbours with his gifts of healing, exorcism and prophecy.
When the church at Anastasiopolis chose Theodore as bishop, he reluctantly accepted the office. About his administration we know very little as his biography records only a long series of his miracles. After ten years he resigned because he was neglecting his prayer and his monks at Sykeon. Theodore retired to an oratory near Heliopolis. There he exercised a apostolate of charity and miracles until his death in 613.
St Abel McAedh
St Aceptismas of Hnaita
St Pope Agapitus I,
St Apelles of Smyrna
St Arwald
St Epipodius of Lyon
St Euflamia
Bl Francis of Fabriano
St Helimenas
St Joseph of Persia
St Leo of Sens
St Leonidas of Alexandria
St Lucius of Laodicea
St Opportuna of Montreuil
St Senorina
St Pope Soter
St Theodore of Sykeon
St Virginio
—
Martyrs of Alexandria
Martyrs of Persia: Bishops, priests, deacons and laity who were martyred in Persia and celebrated together. Several of them have their stories related in the Acta of Saints Abdon and Sennen.
• Abdiesus the Deacon
• Abrosimus
• Aceptismas of Hnaita
• Aithilahas of Persia
• Azadanes the Deacon
• Azades the Eunuch
• Bicor
• Chrysotelus of Persia
• Helimenas of Persia
• James of Persia
• Joseph of Persia
• Lucas of Persia
• Mareas
• Milles of Persia
• Mucius of Persia
• Parmenius of Persia
• Tarbula of Persia
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA – Day Eight – Sixth Day of the Octave
“Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory,
and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.”
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
Thought for the Day – 21 April – St Anselm of Canterbury – “Magnificent Doctor” / “Father of Scholasticism”
As a young boy in Aosta, Italy, Anselm thought of being a priest. His father, angered by this desire, introduced his son to court life. Anselm forgot about his vocation. But in 1060, Anselm learned of Lanfranc, the leader of monasticism in Normandy, France. Anselm entered Lanfranc’s monastery at Bec. Three years later, Anselm became a prior, or head and began to publish his writings on the existence of God.
Lanfranc
What is it about these great Saints! The perseverance, the zeal and the prolific and endless gifts for all of us. So many lessons to be learnt, so many prayers to be said to them appealing for their intercession! The greatest lesson perhaps is their uncompromising gift of self to God, through thick and thin, in health and in suffering, in the good and the bad times, it is only God who counts and the glory of the Kingdom.
“God has promised pardon to him that repents
but he has not promised repentance to him that sins.”
“O supreme and unapproachable light!
O whole and blessed truth, how far You are from me,
who am so near to You!
How far removed You are from my vision,
though I am so near to Yours!
Everywhere You are wholly present
and I see You not.
In You I move and in You I have my being
and I cannot come to You.
You are within me
and about me
and I feel You not.”
“God often works more by the life of the illiterate
seeking the things that are God’s,
than by the ability of the learned
seeking the things that are their own.”
“For I do not seek to understand in order to believe
but I believe in order to understand.
For I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand.”
“Remove grace, and you have nothing whereby to be saved.
Remove free will and you have nothing that could be saved.”
“A single Mass offered for oneself during life
may be worth more than a thousand celebrated
for the same intention after death.”
“No one will have any other desire in heaven
than what God wills;
and the desire of one will be the desire of all;
and the desire of all and of each one
will also be the desire of God.”
ST ANSELM OF CANTERBURY (1033-1109)
Archbishop of Canterbury, O.S.B.
Doctor magnificus (Magnificent Doctor);
Doctor Marianus (Marian Doctor)
One Minute Reflection – 21 April Easter Friday Seventh Day of the Octave and the Memorial of St Anselm OSB (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church
DAILY MEDITATION: Lord, let me love You and feed Your sheep.
Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.”
— John 21:17
REFLECTION – “Those who destroy truth with their lies or detractions deny Christ with their mouths. In the third chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter says: “You denied the Holy and the Just One before Pilate and desired a murderer to be given to you” (3:14). Pilate, whose name means a “hammermouth,” symbolises a person who lies and detracts others. Those who tell lies destroy truth as if they had pounded it with a hammer; those who detract others destroy the love of neighbour. In both cases they deny Christ with their mouths. Detraction seeks to transform good into evil and to minimise its worth.”
…..St Anthony of Padua [1195-1231] on John 21.17
PRAYER – Our God and Holy Father, purify our hearts with Your truth and guide them in the way of holiness, so that we may do what is pleasing in your sight. Let your face shine upon us, that we may be freed from sin and filled with Your plenty. That we may radiate the light of Christ Your Son to all we meet and never allow us to sin against any of Your children by lies or detraction. Teach me to feed Your lambs and Your sheep. May the Prayers of St Anselm be to our gain. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.
PRAYER FOR THE GRACE OF LOVE By St Anselm of Canterbury
We love You, O God
and desire to love You more and more.
Grant that we may love You as we wish to love You
and as we should love You. O dearest Friend
who has loved us so deeply and redeemed us;
come and take Your place in our hearts.
Watch over our lips, our steps and our deeds
and we no longer fear for soul and body.
Yes, give us love, most precious of gifts,
which knows no enemies.
Give our hearts that pure love
borne of Your love for us,
that we may love others as You love us.
O most loving Father of Jesus Christ
from whom all love flows,
grant that our hearts, frozen in sin
and grown cold toward You,
may be warmed in the divine glow.
Help and bless us in Your Son. O blessed Lord,
You have commanded us to love one another,
give us the grace that, as we have received
Your unmerited favours,
we may love all persons in You and for You.
We implore your clemency for all people
but particularly for our friends whom You have given us.
Love them, Source of Love and instill in them
a thorough love of Yourself,
that they may seek, utter and do nothing
save what is pleasing to You. Amen
Saint of the Day – 21 April – St Anselm of Canterbury- Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church (c1033-1109) Doctor magnificus (Magnificent Doctor), Doctor Marianus (Marian Doctor), “Father of Scholasticism” – Monk, Prior, Abbott, Archbishop, Theologian, Philosopher. Anselm was born in or around Aosta in Upper Burgundy sometime between April 1033 and April 1034. At the age of fifteen, Anselm desired to enter a Monastery but, failing to obtain his father’s consent, he was refused by the Abbot. The illness he then suffered has been considered a psychosomatic effect of his disappointment but upon his recovery he gave up his studies and for a time lived a carefree life.
Following the death of his mother, probably at the birth of his sister Richera, Anselm’s father repented his earlier lifestyle but professed his new faith with a severity that the boy found likewise unbearable. Anselm, at age 23, left home with a single attendant crossed the Alps and wandered through Burgundy and France for three years. His countryman Lanfranc of Pavia was then prior of the Benedictine abbey of Bec; attracted by the fame of his fellow countryman, Anselm reached Normandy in 1059. After spending some time in Avranches, he returned the next year. His father having died, he consulted with Lanfranc as to whether to return to his estates and employ their income in providing alms or to renounce them, becoming a hermit or a monk at Bec or Cluny. Professing to fear his own bias, Lanfranc sent him to Maurilius, the Archbishop of Rouen, who convinced him to enter the abbey as a novice at the age of 27. Probably in his first year, he wrote his first work on philosophy, a treatment of Latin paradoxes called the Grammarian. Over the next decade, the Rule of Saint Benedict reshaped his thought.
Because of the physical closeness and political connections, there was frequent travel and communication between Normandy and England and Anselm was in repeated contact with Church officials in England. He was chosen as reluctant Archbishop of Canterbury, England in 109 – officials had to wait until he was too sick to argue in order to get him to agree.
“Anselm Assuming the Pallium in Canterbury Cathedral” from E M Wilmot-Buxton’s 1915 Anselm
As bishop he fought King William Rufus’s encroachment on ecclesiastical rights and the independence of the Church, refused to pay bribes to take over as bishop and was exiled for his efforts. He travelled to Rome, Italy and spent part of his exile as an advisor to Pope Blessed Urban II, obtaining the pope’s support for returning to England and conducting Church business without the king’s interference. He resolved theological doubts of the Italo-Greek bishops at Council of Bari in 1098.
In 1100 King Henry II invited Anselm to return to England but they disputed over lay investiture and Anselm was exiled again only to return in 1106 when Henry agreed not to interfere with the selection of Church officials. Anselm opposed slavery and obtained English legislation prohibiting the sale of men. He strongly supported celibate clergy and approved the addition of several saints to the liturgical calendar of England.
He died on Holy Wednesday, 21 April 1109. His remains were translated to Canterbury Cathedral and laid at the head of Lanfranc at his initial resting place to the south of the Altar of the Holy Trinity (now St Thomas’s Chapel). During the church’s reconstruction after the disastrous fire of the 1170s, his remains were relocated, although it is now uncertain where.
Anselm was one of the great philosophers and theologians of the middle ages and a noted theological writer. He was far more at home in the monastery than in political circles but still managed to improve the position of the Church in England. Counsellor to Pope Gregory VII. Chosen a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI.
The life of St Anselm told in 16 medallions in a stained-glass window in Quimper Cathedral, Brittany, in France
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (1610-1662) – The Meeting of the Countess Matilda and Anselm of Canterbury in the Presence of Pope Urban II (1637-1642), oil on canvas, Galleria dei Romanelli, the Vatican.
In his teens Theodore lived as a hermit in a cave near Sykeon. Then he shut himself up in a mountainous cave to practice extreme mortification. But Theodore also became well known for serving his neighbours with his gifts of healing, exorcism and prophecy.
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