Tag: matthew16:24

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 February – “What does this mean, “take up a cross?”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 February – St Blaise (Died c 316) Martyr Bishop, Physician, Miracle-worker. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Matthew 16:24-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24

REFLECTION – “What does this mean, “take up a cross?” It means, he will bear with whatever is troublesome and in this very act, he will be following Me.
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.
Such belong to the members of the Church in the same way, that bad blood is in the body.
Therefore, if you wish to follow Christ, do not delay in carrying His Cross, tolerate sinners but do not yield to them.
Do not let the false happiness of the wicked corrupt you.
You do well to despise all things for the sake of Christ, in order that you may be fit for His companionship.”- St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop of Arles and Father of the Church – (Sermons, 159).

PRAYER – O God, Who gladden us with the yearly festival of blessed Blaise, Thy Martyr and Bishop, mercifully grant that, as we venerate the anniversary of his Martyrdom, we may also rejoice in his protection. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", FATHERS of the Church, OUR Cross, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD

One Minute Reflection – 16 December – What does this mean, “take up a cross?”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 16 December – “The Month of the Divine Infant and the Immaculate Conception” – Friday of Ember Week in Advent – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Matthew 16:24-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24

REFLECTION – “What does this mean, “take up a cross?” It means, he will bear with whatever is troublesome and in this very act, he will be following Me.
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.
Such belong to the members of the Church in the same way, that bad blood is in the body.
Therefore, if you wish to follow Christ, do not delay in carrying His Cross, tolerate sinners but do not yield to them.
Do not let the false happiness of the wicked corrupt you.
You do well to despise all things for the sake of Christ, in order that you may be fit for His companionship.”- St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop of Arles and Father of the Church – (Sermons, 159).

PRAYER – Put forth Thy power, O Lord, we beseech Thee and come that those who trust in Thy goodness may soon be delivered from all harm. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 August – ‘… Walk with me …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 7 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Friday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time, Readings:  Nahum 1:15; 2, 2; 3, 1-3, 6-7 (2, 1, 3; 3,1-3, 6-7), Responsorial psalm Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39-41, Matthew 16:24-28 and the Memorial of St Donatus of Arezzo (Died 362) Bishop

“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” … Matthew 16:24matthew 16 24 - if any man ...take up his cross and follow me - 9 aug 2019 no 2 lg

REFLECTION – “At the responsory:  “See, the Lord our protector comes, the Holy One of Israel,” Gertrude understood, that if someone applies himself, with all his heart, to desire that his whole life be governed, in prosperity and adversity, according to the most laudable will of God, then by such thoughts, by God’s grace, he would be giving as much honour to God, as one would give to an emperor in placing the imperial crown on his head. …
She saw the Lord walking along a path, pleasant to behold, with fairest flowers and verdure but narrow and lined with dense hedges bristling with sharp thorns.   She saw that He seemed to be preceded by a cross which parted the thorns and made the way wider and easier.   With a serene expression on His face, turning toward those who belonged to Him, He invited them to follow Him, saying: “Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…” (Mt 16:24).
From this she knew that the cross of each, is his own personal trial.  For example, for some souls obedience is a cross when they are obliged to do what is contrary to their wishes.   For others, to be burdened with infirmity, which acts as a restraint and so on.   We should all carry our crosses and apply ourselves with a good will to suffer adversity gladly and, in addition, to do all that is in our power, neglecting nothing, which we know to be for the greater glory of God.” … St Gertrude of Helfta/the Great (1256-1302) Benedictine nun – The Herald of Divine Love, Book III, SC 143we should all carry our crosses - st gertrude the great 7 aug 2020

PRAYER – “O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You.   Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me.   I do not see very far ahead but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall be met with peace.   How wondrous are the marvels of Your love, we are amazed, we stammer and grow dumb, for word and spirit fail us.  Amen” … St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942) Martyr   St Donatus of Arezzo, Pray for us!i do not see very far ahead - st teresa benedicta of the cross 7 aug 2020

st donatus of arezzo pray for us 7 aug 2020

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 August – Follow me

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 10 August – Friday of the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Matthew 16:24–28 and the Memorial of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942) Martyr

“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” ... Matthew 16:24matthew 16 24 - if any man ...take up his cross and follow me - 9 aug 2019 no 2 lg

REFLECTION – “Two years before he gave his spirit back to heaven… Francis understood that just as he had imitated Christ in the actions of his life, so he should be conformed to him… in his Passion…  He was in no way terrified but… by the Seraphic ardour of his desires, he was transformed into Him who chose to be crucified, because of “the excess of his love” (Eph 2:4).   On a certain morning about the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, while Francis was praying on the mountainside, he saw a Seraph with six fiery and shining wings descend from the height of heaven.   And when, in swift flight, the Seraph had reached a spot in the air near the man of God, there appeared between the wings, the figure of a man crucified, with His hands and feet extended in the form of a cross and fastened to a cross…

When Francis saw this, he was overwhelmed and his heart was flooded with a mixture of joy and sorrow.   He rejoiced, because of the gracious way Christ looked upon him under the appearance of the Seraph but, the fact that he was fastened to a cross, “pierced his soul with a sword” of compassionate sorrow (Lk 2:35).   He wondered exceedingly at the sight of so unfathomable a vision, realising that the weakness of Christ’s passion, was in no way compatible, with the immortality of the Seraph’s spiritual nature.   Eventually, he understood by a revelation from the lord, that divine providence had shown him this vision so that, as Christ’s lover, he might learn in advance, that he was to be totally transformed into the likeness of Christ crucified, not by the martyrdom of his flesh but by the fire of his love consuming his soul.” … St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Doctor of the Churcheventually he understood that he was to be - st bonaventure on st francis - 9 aug 2019

PRAYER – “O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead but when I have arrived
where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall be met with peace. How wondrous are the marvels of Your love, we are amazed, we stammer and grow dumb, for word and spirit fail us. Amen” …St Teresa Benedicta of the Crossi-do-not-see-very-far-ahead-st-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross-9-aug-2018.jpg

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 August

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 12 August

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me…”…Matthew 16:24

REFLECTION – “These words are the foundation of all Christian and religious perfection.
To deny self is to renounce to all, the will of the flesh:
all our inclinations, desires, pleasures, satisfactions, softness, tastes, humour, preferences, habits, susceptibility, aversions and repugnance to rough things;
in other words, to renounce in all and for all, our perverse self.”…St Jane de Chantal

these words are the foundation - st jane de chantal

PRAYER – Lord, You chose St Jane Frances to serve You, both in marriage and in religious life. By her prayers help us to be faithful in our vocation and always to work against our perverse inclinations. Only in You and with You and through You may we attain perfection. Lead us Lord! We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. St Jane de Chantal, pray for us, amen.

st jane de chantal - pray for us