Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC TIME, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on TIME, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – “I will never abandon you, I will always be with you.”

Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Therefore, I say to you,
do not be anxious for your life,
what you shall eat;
nor yet, for your body,
what you shall put on.

Matthew 6:25

“… May grace and peace
be yours in abundance,
through knowledge of God
and of Jesus Our Lord
…”

2 Peter 1:2

Do you desire security?
Here you have it.
The Lord says to you, “I will never abandon you,
I will always be with you.”
If a good man made you such a promise,
you would trust him.
God makes it and do you doubt?
Do you seek a support, more sure
than the Word of God, which is infallible?
Surely, He has made the promise,
He has written it,
He has pledged His Word for it, it is most certain!

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Let nothing perturb you,
nothing frighten you.
All things pass.
God does not change.
Patience achieves everything.

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of Prayer

Let the world turn upside down,
let everything be in darkness, in smoke,
in uproar – God is with us!

I recommend that you look before you
but not dwell upon those
dangers which you see in the distance.

Let us think only
of spending the present day well.
Then, when tomorrow
shall have come,
it will be called
TODAY
and then, we will think
about
IT!”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 September – ‘ … Slaves of a piece of senseless, soulless metal [worse – of paper]! … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 7 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Ferial Day – St Cloud (c522-560) Abbot, Confessor – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

No man serve two masters …” – Matthew 6:24

REFLECTION – “See what benefits Jesus Christ promises and how beneficial His commands are to us, since they set us free from such great evils. The misery caused you by riches, He says to us, is not just that of arming thieves against you and filling your mind with impenetrable gloom. The great wound they inflict, is to snatch you away from the blessed service of Jesus Christ, to make you slaves of a piece of senseless, soulless metal [worse – of paper]!

You cannot serve both God and mammon.” My brethren, let us shudder at the thought that we are forcing Jesus Christ to speak to us about money, as though it were an alternative divinity to God! But surely, you will say, did not the patriarchs of old find it possible to serve God and money at the same time? Certainly not! But how, then, was it that Abraham and Job set such store by their wealth? I reply that there is no question here of invoking those, who possessed riches but those who were possessed by them. Job was a rich man; he made use of money without being its slave; he was its master, not its worshipper. He considered his wealth as though it had been another’s and saw himself as its administrator, not its proprietor. … That was why he was not the least bothered when he lost it.” – St John Chrysostom (345-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermons on Saint Matthew’s Gospel No 21).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of thine eternal gladness.Through the same 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 CHRIST the KING, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Family PRAYERS, HYMNS, POETRY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The DIVINE INFANT, The HOLY FAMILY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE, The HOLY GHOST, The KINGDOM of GOD, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – Seek the Kingdom

Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – Feria Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But seek first the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness and all these things
shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

And the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of David, His father
and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.
And of His Kingdom there shall be no end
.”
Luke 1:32-33

During this present life, Christ rules in the Church.
By faith and love, He dwells
in the hearts of His elect and guides them,
by His unceasing care, toward their heavenly reward.
In the life to come, when their period of exile on earth is ended,
He will exercise His Kingship,
by leading the faithful to their heavenly country.
There, forever inspired by the vision of His Presence,
their one delight will be to praise and glorify Him.

The Venerable St Bede (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

The only true riches are those
that make us rich in virtue.
Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved,
love true riches.
If you aspire to the heights of real honour,
strive to reach the Kingdom of Heaven.
If you value rank and renown,
hasten to be enrolled
in the heavenly court of the Angels.

St Pope Gregory III (Died 741)

Adveniat Regnum Tuum!
Thy Kingdom Come!

By Katharine Tynan (1861-1931)

Thy Kingdom come ! Yea, bid it come!
But when Thy Kingdom first began
On earth, Thy Kingdom was a home,
A Child, a woman and a man.

The Child was in the midst thereof,
O, Blessed Jesus, holiest One!
The Centre and the Fount of Love
Mary and Joseph’s little Son.

Wherever on the earth shall be
A child, a woman and a man,
Imaging that sweet trinity
Wherewith Thy Kingdom first began,

Establish there Thy kingdom! Yea,
And o’er that trinity of love
Send down, as in Thy appointed day,
The brooding Spirit of Thy Dove!

Katharine Tynan (1861-1931) was an Irish born Poet and Writer and a friend of the Jesuit Poet, Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins. She contributed to many periodicals and magazines such as the Jesuit published Studies, the Dominican published Irish Rosary, Irish Monthly, Hibernia and Dublin University Review, besides her own private publications.
After her marriage, the addition of her husband’s name, “Hinkson” is often appended to her publications.

Posted in "Follow Me", CATECHESIS, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, The KINGDOM of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 September – ‘ … It means… unceasing work for God’s Kingdom … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 6 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33

REFLECTION – “Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be added to you”… It is said, then that we should seek the Kingdom of God. “That we should seek” – it’s a simple word but it seems to me, to be saying a great deal. It means… unceasing work for God’s Kingdom, not remaining in an indolent, motionless state but paying attention to one’s interior state, so as to govern it well, not being detached and uncaring at the exterior level… Seek God within yourself, since Saint Augustine confesses that, as long as he sought Him outside himself, he failed to find Him. Seek Him in your soul as in a pleasant dwelling place because, this is the basis on which, His servants of establish themselves, who try to put all the virtues into practice . We have to have an interior life, we have to move towards this – lacking this ,we lack everything… Let us try to make ourselves live interiorly… Let us seek God’s glory, seek the reign of Jesus Christ…

But, [you will tell me], there is so much to do, so many household jobs, so much business in town, in the fields – work everywhere! Do we have to abandon it all, then, so as to think of nothing but God?” No – but these occupations have to be sanctified by seeking God in them and doing them to find Him in them, rather than, to see them done. What our Lord wants, is for us to seek His glory, His Kingdom, His righteousness, before all else and, for this, to make our foundation the interior life, faith, trust, love, religious exercises…, labours and sufferings, with God our Sovereign Lord in view… Once we are firmly set in the search for God’s glory, we can be assured that the rest will follow.”St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) Priest, Founder (Conference given on 21/02/1659).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of thine eternal gladness.Through the same 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", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 September – No man can serve two masters. – Matthew 6:24

One Minute Reflection – 4 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Rose of Viterbo (c1233 – 1251) Virgin – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

No man can serve two masters.” – Matthew 6:24

REFLECTION – “To want to place one’s hope and trust in passing things, is to want to set one’s foundations in running water! Everything passes, God abides. To be attached to what is transitory is to cut oneself off from what endures. For who, carried away by the angry whirling of a rapid, can stand firm in that roiling flood? So, if you wish to avoid being carried away by the current, then flee from all that flows away. Otherwise, the object of our love, will make us finish by doing exactly what we wanted to avoid! Whoever attaches himself to transitory things, will surely be dragged along, to wherever the things he is clinging to, are drifting.

So, the first thing we must do, is to keep ourselves from loving material goods; the second is, not to put our trust in such of those goods, as are entrusted for our use and not our enjoyment. The soul, who is attached to goods which only pass away, very soon loses its own stability. The current of this present life carries off, whoever it bears and, it is a foolish delusion, for whoever this current carries, to try to stand upright in it!” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Morals on Job, 34).

PRAYER – Protect Thy Church by Thine abiding mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord and since all mortals fall without Thee, may Thy help keep them from danger and guide them to salvation. May the prayers of Thy virgin the blessed Rose, assist us on our journey to Thee. 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 CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 September – ‘… Jesus wishes us, then, to be free from every anxiety regarding temporal affairs, … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 3 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Is not the life a greater thing than the food and the body, than the clothing? ” – Matthew 6:25

REFLECTION –If spiritual things hold first place in our lives, material needs will cause us no concern, for God, in His goodness, will give them to us in abundance. On the other hand, if we devote ourselves entirely to earthly pursuits and neglect our spiritual life, concern for what this life has to offer will lead us to neglect our souls… I urge you, therefore, let us not overturn the established order. We know that our Master is good, so let us commit everything to Him and not be taken up with the cares of this life… “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things even before you ask him” (Mt 6:32).

Jesus wishes us, then, to be free from every anxiety regarding temporal affairs and to have all possible leisure for the things of the Spirit. He says: “Your part is to seek spiritual blessings and I myself, will provide amply for your material needs. Look at the birds in the sky. They neither sow nor reap nor gather crops into barns and yet, your Father feeds them. ” In other words, “If I take such care of irrational birds, as to supply them with all they need without plowing or sowing, I will take much greater care of you, who are endowed with reason, if only you make up your minds to put spiritual things before temporal ones. If I made these creatures for your sake and the whole of creation too and, if I take such care of them, of what great care will I not deem you worthy – you, for whom I created all of this?” – St John Chrysostom (345-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Baptismal catechesis, no 8, 19-25).

PRAYER – O God Who, for the defence of the Catholic faith and the restoration of all things in Christ, filled St Pius, the Supreme Pontiff, with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fearlessness, mercifully grant that, by following his teachings and examples, we may receive Thy eternal rewards. 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).