Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, The KINGDOM of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 February – “… A man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they two shall be in one flesh.” – Matthew 19:5

One Minute Reflection – 5 February – St Agatha (c231- c251) Virgin Martyr – 1 Corinthians 1 Cor. 1:26-31; Matthew 19:3-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

… A man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they two shall be in one flesh.” – Matthew 19:5

REFLECTION – “What should you be saying to your wife? Tell her with great gentleness: “…I have chosen you; I love you and prefer you to my own life. Life in the present is nothing and so I perform all my prayers, intentions and every action, so that we may be granted to spend this life, in such a way, as to be reunited in the life to come, without further fear of separation. Our present life is short and tenuous. If it is granted us to be pleasing to God now, we shall be with Christ and, each other forever in unending happiness. It is your love that enraptures me more than anything else and I could not know, a more unbearable misfortune, than to be parted from you. Were I to lose everything and become poorer than a beggar, run the ultimate risks or undergo anything at all, it would all be bearable for me, so long as your love for me, holds firm. Only by counting on this love, will I hope for children.

You must also match your conduct to these words… Show your wife how much you value living with her and that, because of her, you prefer being at home to the public square. Prefer her to all your friends and even to the children she has borne you and, let these be loved by you, for her sake…

Say your prayers together. Let each of you go to Church and, returning home, let the husband ask an account from his wife and the wife from her husband, concerning whatever was said or read … Learn the fear of God and all the rest will flow, as from a spring and your house will be filled with countless blessings. Let us aspire to those good things that are incorruptible and the rest will not pass us by. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all the rest will be added to you” (Mt 6:33).” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homily 20 on the Letter to the Ephesians).

PRAYER – O God, Who among other wonders of Thy power hast given the victory of mMrtyrdom even to the gentler sex, graciously grant that we, who commemorate the anniversary of the death of blessed Agatha, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may come to Thee, by following her example.Through esus 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 DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 August – ‘God makes two, one and one, two … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 13 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Readings: Joshua 24: 1-13; Psalm 136: 1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24; Matthew 19: 3-12 and the Memorial of St Radegunde (c 518-587

And the two shall become one flesh – Matthew 19:5

REFLECTION – “Woman is not independent of man or man of woman in the Lord” (1 Cor 11:11) … Man and woman walk hand in hand to the Kingdom. Christ calls both man and woman, at one and the same time without distinction, united by God and joined together by nature, giving them a share in the same actions and tasks, in wonderful harmony. Through the marriage bond, God makes two, one and one, two in such a way, that another self is discovered, without loss of individuality or mingling in duality.

But why does God appeal thus to man and and to woman through the images He gives of His Kingdom? (cf. Lk 13:18-21). Why does He suggest such greatness by means of seemingly weak and inadequate examples? Oh my brethren! a priceless mystery is hidden under this poverty. As the Apostle Paul says: “This is a great mystery but I speak in reference to Christ and His Church” (Eph 5:32).

These parables suggest humanity’s greatest goal – man and woman have brought an end to the lawsuit against the world, a lawsuit that dragged on for centuries. The first man, Adam and first woman, Eve, are led from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to the fire … of the Gospel …. Mouths sickened by the fruit of the poisoned tree are healed by the fiery taste of the tree of salvation, of that tree tasting of fire, which inflames consciences frozen by the former tree. Here nakedness makes no difference and no longer inspires shame, for man and woman are fully clothed in forgiveness.” – St Peter Chrysologus (406-450) Bishop of Ravenna, Doctor of the Church – Sermon 99 ; PL 52,477

PRAYER – Almighty Father, let Your light so penetrate our hearts and minds, that walking by Your commandments, we may always follow You, our teacher and our guide. Grant that the prayers of St Radegunde may continue to strengthen us. Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 August – And the two shall become one flesh’ … Matthew 19:5

One Minute Reflection – 14 August – Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Readings:  Ezekiel 16:1-156063Isaiah 12:2-345-6Matthew 19:3-12 and the Memorial of Blessed St Maximillian Kolbe OFM Conv (1894 -1941)

‘And the two shall become one flesh’ … Matthew 19:5

REFLECTION – “Lord our God,
look with kindness on N. and N.,
whom You have united in marriage,
and pour out Your blessings upon them,
may they be united in one love
as they progress together
towards one holiness of life.
May they rejoice to share in Your creative love
and bring up their children together.
May they live in justice and charity,
showing Your light to all who seek You.
May their household be ever open to the service of their brothers and sisters and may they be always ready to answer to their needs.
May they be strengthened by the joys and sacrifices of their life together and bear witness to the Gospel.
May they have a long life together, without misfortune or sickness
and may the work of both be blessed.
May they see their children grow up in peace
and enjoy the support of a happy family.
May they come at last, with all those who have gone before them,
to the dwelling where their love will last eternally.

N. and N. and all you who are present here,
may God the all-powerful bless you,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” … The Roman MissalRitual of Marriage : Solemn blessingmatthew 19 5 and the two shall become one flesh - lord our god - roman missal ritual of marriage blessing 16 aug 2019

PRAYER – Almighty Father, let Your light so penetrate our hearts and minds, that walking by Your commandments, we may always follow You, our teacher and our guide.   Grant that the prayers of St Maximillian Kolbe may continue to strengthen us.   Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.st max pray for us 14 aug 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 16 August – ‘And the two shall become one flesh’

One Minute Reflection – 16 August – Friday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 19:3–12 and The Memorial of St Stephen of Hungary (c 975- 1038)

‘And the two shall become one flesh’ … Matthew 19:5

REFLECTION – “Lord our God,
look with kindness on N. and N.,
whom You have united in marriage,
and pour out Your blessings upon them,
may they be united in one love
as they progress together
towards one holiness of life.
May they rejoice to share in Your creative love
and bring up their children together.
May they live in justice and charity,
showing Your light to all who seek You.
May their household be ever open to the service of their brothers and sisters
and may they be always ready to answer to their needs.
May they be strengthened by the joys and sacrifices of their life together
and bear witness to the Gospel.
May they have a long life together, without misfortune or sickness
and may the work of both be blessed.
May they see their children grow up in peace
and enjoy the support of a happy family.
May they come at last, with all those who have gone before them,
to the dwelling where their love will last eternally.

N. and N. and all you who are present here,
may God the all-powerful bless you,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” … The Roman Missal – Ritual of Marriage : Solemn blessingmatthew 19 5 and the two shall become one flesh - lord our god - roman missal ritual of marriage blessing 16 aug 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Almighty Father, let Your light so penetrate our hearts and minds, that walking by Your commandments, we may always follow You, our teacher and our guide. Grant that the prayers of St Stephen of Hungary may continue to defend us, as he did in the world. Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.st stephen of hungary pray for us 16 aug 2019