Tag: popefrancis

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, MARY'S MONTH, MARY, MATER ECCLESIAE, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 10 May – Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 10 May – “Mary’s Month” – The Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Prayer to Mary,
Mother of the Church
and Mother of our Faith
By Pope Francis

Mother, help our faith!
Open our ears to hear God’s word
and to recognise His voice and call.
Awaken in us a desire to follow in His footsteps,
to go forth from our own land
and to receive His promise.
Help us to be touched by His love,
that we may touch Him in faith.
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to Him
and to believe in His love,
especially at times of trial,
beneath the shadow of the cross,
when our faith is called to mature.
Sow in our faith, the joy of the Risen One.
Remind us, that those who believe are never alone.
Teach us to see all things
with the eyes of Jesus,
that He may be light for our path.
And may this light of faith
always increase in us,
until the dawn of that undying day
which is Christ Himself, your Son, our Lord!
Amen

*Prayer to Mary at the conclusion of the Encyclical Lumen Fidei (29 June 2013)prayer to mary mother of the chuch and of our faith - pope francis - 12 may 2019

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION, SAINT of the DAY, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 May – ‘Father, lead me to know Jesus’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 5 May – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts11:19-26, Psalm 87:1-7, John 10:22-30 and the Memorial of St Angelus of Jerusalem O.Carm (1185-1220) Priest, Martyr

“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all and no-one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand..” … John 10:29

REFLECTION – “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish and no-one shall snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”   Did these sheep learn by following Jesus and then believe?   No.   “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.”   It is thus the Father, who gives the sheep to the shepherd, it is the Father, who draws hearts to Jesus.

And the humble prayer that we can say as daughters and sons is:  ‘Father, draw me to Jesus, Father, lead me to know Jesus’ and the Father will send the Spirit to open our hearts and lead us to Jesus. Amen” …   Pope Francis – Santa Marta, 19 April 2016is greater than all john 18 29 - the humble prayer that we can say pope francis 5 may 2020

PRAYER – Lord God, grant Your people constant joy in the renewed vigour of their souls. They rejoice because You have restored them to the glory of Your adopted children, let them look forward gladly to the certain hope of the resurrection.   Draw us constantly to Your son, Jesus, our Lord, teach us to know Him and may the prayers of our Blessed Mother and St Angelus of Jerusalem, who so zealously fought the good fight, be of assistance to us amidst the storms of this mortal life.   We make our prayer through our Resurrected Christ, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen, alleluia!

immaculate mary pray for us - 2 sept 2018

ST ANGELUS OF JERUSALEM PRAY FOR US 5 MAY 2020

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYER WARRIORS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, St JOSEPH

Our Morning Offering – 30 April – Prayer to St Joseph For the Opening of our Churches

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Our Morning Offering – 30 April – Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

“Let us Pray together, entrusting ourselves to the intercession of St Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Church, the Holy Family, Guardian of all our families.   Even the carpenter of Nazareth knew precariousness and bitterness.   Though he worried about the future, he knew how to walk the darkness of certain moments, always letting himself be guided by God’s will without reservation.” ... -Pope Francis, 18 March 2020

Prayer to St Joseph
For the Opening of our Churches
Adapted from a Prayer by Pope Francis

Protect, O Holy Guardian, this our Holy Church.
Enlighten our Bishops,
so that they might know — like you do —
how to care for those entrusted to their responsibility.
Bless, O St Joseph, the Church,
beginning with her ministers,
make her the sign and instrument
of your light and your goodness.
Accompany, us O St Joseph,
as we await the re-opening of our Churches.
We are bereft and suffering without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Food for our journey is necessary to grant us strength,
although we call Our Lord to come to our hearts,
we miss His Real Presence.
Preserve the elderly from loneliness,
especially those who are recipients of the Holy Eucharist
in their homes, grant that no-one might be left in desperation
from abandonment and discouragement.
Comfort those who are the most frail,
encourage those who falter in faith,
strengthen all of us,
intercede for the poor.
With the Virgin Mother, beg the Lord to liberate the world
from every form of suffering and want
and to come back to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Amenprayer to st joseph for the opening of our Chruches - covid 19 29 april 2020 adapted by pope francis

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 April – “It is the Lord!”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 17 April – Easter Friday, Readings: Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27, John 21:1-14

“It is the Lord!” … John 21:7

REFLECTION – “The Lord says to those tired and disappointed fishermen:  “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some” (v. 6).   The disciples trust in Jesus and the result is an incredibly abundant catch.   In that exclamation: “It is the Lord!” there is all the enthusiasm of the Paschal faith, full of joy and wonder, which sharply contrasts with the disappearance, the dejection, the sense of powerlessness that had accumulated in the disciples’ hearts.

The presence of the Risen Jesus transforms everything – darkness has become light, futile work has again become fruitful and promising, the sense of weariness and abandonment, give way to a new impetus and to the certainty that He is with us.   From that time, these same sentiments enliven the Church, the Community of the Risen One.  All of us are the community of the Risen One!” … Pope Francis – Regina Coeli, 10 April 2016john 21 7 it is the lord - the presence of the Risen Jesus transforms everything - pope francis - 17 april 2020 easter friday

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, You offer the covenant of reconciliation to mankind in the mystery of Easter.   Cleanse our hearts by Your truth and guide our lives by Your holiness, may we do what is right and pleasing to You.   Open our eyes to see You and our ears to Hear You, that we may follow your commandments and Your Way.   Grant that what we celebrate in worship, we may carry out in our lives.   May our Holy Mother, ever keep us in her prayers and care.   Through Christ, our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour to You, forever, amenblessed virgin mother pray for us 17 april 2020

Posted in EASTER, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 April – “Stop. Jesus is Risen.” 

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 13 April – Easter Monday, Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11, Matthew 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed and ran to announce the news to his disciples. … Matthew 28:8

ran to announce the news to his disciples matthew 28 8 - 13 april 2020 easter monday

REFLECTION – “Today, the Church continues to say:  “Stop. Jesus is Risen.”   And this is not a fantasy.   The Resurrection of Christ is not a celebration with many flowers.   This is beautiful but this is not it.   It is something more.   It is the mystery of the discarded stone which becomes the foundation of our existence.   Christ is Risen.   And with faith in the Risen Christ, we too, pebbles on this earth of pain, tragedy, acquire meaning amid so many calamities.   The sense to look beyond, the sense to say:  “Look, there is no wall; there is a horizon, there is life, there is joy, there is the cross with this ambivalence.  Look ahead, do not close within yourself.   You pebble, acquire meaning in life because you are a pebble near that rock, that stone which the evil of sin discarded”.   Brothers and sisters, this is what I wanted to say to you.   Go home today repeating in your hearts: “Christ is Risen”. … Pope Francis – Easter Sunday, 16 April 2017

with faith in the risen christ, we too, pebbles - 13 april 2020 easter monday

PRAYER – Lord God, You bring us joy through the Easter mysteries.   Continue to be bountiful to Your people, lead us from darkness to the perfect freedom, by which the joy that gladdens our way on earth, will be fulfilled in heaven.   May the prayer of your angels and saints, with Mary the Mother of our Saviour and our Mother, grant us peace and strength.   We make our prayer through our Lord, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever amen.

MARY MOTHER OF THE RISEN CHRIST PRA PRO NOBIS PRAY FOR US 13 APRIL 2020

Posted in GOOD FRIDAY, STATIONS of the CROSS

STATIONS OF THE CROSS 10 April 2020 Meditations from Padua Prison with Pope Francis

Posted on by AnaStpaul

GOOD FRIDAY
10 APRIL 2020

STATIONS OF THE CROSS 10 April 2020553px-stations of the cross - jesus meets veronica_(Museo_del_Prado)

Meditations from Padua Prison with Pope Francis

The meditations on the Stations of the Cross this year were prepared by the chaplaincy of the “Due Palazzi” House of Detention in Padua.   Fourteen people were invited by Pope Francis to meditate on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, bringing it to bear on their own situations.   Those invited included five prisoners, a family that was the victim of a murder, the daughter of a man given a life sentence, a prison teacher, a civil magistrate, the mother of a prisoner, a catechist, a volunteer religious brother, a prison guard and a Priest who was accused and then finally acquitted after eight years in the justice system.

These Stations are magnificent!  Let us Pray:

O God, Almighty Father,
in Jesus Christ Your Son
You assumed the wounds and sufferings of humanity.
Today I have the courage to beseech You, like the good thief:  “Remember me!”
I am here, alone before You, in the dark of this prison:
poor, naked, hungry and despised and I ask You to pour out upon my wounds,
the balm of forgiveness and consolation
and the wine of a solidarity that strengthens the heart.
Heal me with Your grace and teach me hope in the midst of despair.
My Lord and my God, I believe, help my unbelief.
Merciful Father, continue to trust in me, to give me fresh opportunities,
to embrace me in Your infinite love.
With Your help and by the gift of the Holy Spirit,
I too will be able to recognise You
and serve You, in my brothers and sisters.
Amen.

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2020/documents/ns_lit_doc_20200410_via-crucis-meditazioni_en.html

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, NOTES to Followers, The LORD'S PRAYER

Holy Father Calls on World to Pray the “Our Father” Together at 12 Noon and announces the Urbi et Orbi Blessing on Friday 27 March which will include a Plenary Indulgence

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Holy Father Calls on World to Pray the “Our Father” Together at 12 Noon and announces the Urbi et Orbi Blessing on Friday 27 March which will include a Plenary Indulgence

Pope Francis has called for all Christians throughout the world to join in praying the Our Father on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, at noon.

25 march 2020 pray the our father at noon today pope francis coronavirus 25march2020

He made the appeal after praying the noonday Angelus on 22 March broadcast from Apostolic Library in the Vatican.

“In these days of trial, while humanity trembles because of the pandemic’s menace, I would like to propose to all Christians to unite their voices to Heaven,” the Pope said after Sunday’s Angelus.   “I invite all the Heads of Churches and the leaders of all the Christian Communities, together with all the Christians of the various Confessions, to invoke the Most High, Almighty God, reciting contemporaneously the prayer that Jesus Our Lord taught us.   I invite all, therefore, to do so several times a day, but, all together, to recite the Our Father .the Lord's Prayer - matthew 6 9-13 - 20 june 2019

On the day in which many Christians recall the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word, may the Lord be able to hear the unanimous prayer of all His disciples that are preparing to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ.

With this same intention, next Friday, 27 March at 6:00 pm, I will preside over a moment of prayer in the courtyard of St Peter’s Basilica, with the empty Square. From now on I invite all to take part spiritually through the means of communication.   We will listen to the Word of God, we will elevate our prayer, we will adore the Most Blessed Sacrament, with which at the end I will give the Urbi et Orbi Blessing, to which will be annexed the possibility to receive a Plenary Indulgence.”

Posted in QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on SLOTH, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 March – ‘Christian hypocrites, like these ….’

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One Minute Reflection – 24 March – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9, John 5:1-16 and the Memorial of Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz OFM Cap (1743–1801)

So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.”   But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’ ”…John 5:10-11

REFLECTION – “Christian hypocrites, like these, only interested in their formalities.   It was a Sabbath?   No, you cannot do miracles on the Sabbath, the grace of God cannot work on Sabbath days.   They close the door to the grace of God.   We have so many in the Church, we have many!   It is another sin.   The first, those who have the sin of sloth, are not able to go forward with their apostolic zeal, because they have decided to stand firm in themselves, in their sorrows, their resentments, in all of that.   Such as these are not capable of bringing salvation because they close the door to salvation.”… Pope Francis – Santa Marta 1 April 2014john 5 11 the man who healed me said - christian hypocrites - pope francis 24 march 2020

PRAYER – God, our Father almighty, You gave us Christ Your Son to be our Bread of life and the message of truth, justice and love.   May we live His lessons in every fibre of our being and thus pass from death to life.   May the prayers of our Blessed Virgin Mother, your Holy angels, saints and martyrs, of Blessed Didacus Joseph, be an inspiration and a balm in our trials.   Through Jesus our Lord with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.bl didacus joseph pray for us 24 march 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, I BELIEVE!, LENT 2020, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS on FAITH, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 23 March – I believe in You, increase my faith.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Reflection – 23 March – Monday of the Fourth week of Lent, Readings: Isaiah 65:17-21, Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13, John 4:43-54

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Jesus said to him, “Go, your son will live.”
The man believed the word
that Jesus spoke to him
and went his way. … John 4:50john-4-50-go-your-son-will-live-mon-fourthweek-lent-1-april-2019 and 23 march 2020

Daily Meditation:
You give us new life.
We now begin the second part of Lent.

“When the Lord passes into our life and performs a miracle in each of us and each of us knows what the Lord has done in our life, it does not end there. this is the invitation to go forward, to continue on the journey, ‘seeking the face of God,’ the Psalm says, seeking this joy.” … Pope Francis – Santa Marta, 12 March 2018

Lo, I am about to create
new heavens and a new earth.
Isaiah 65:17 The First Reading

Intercessions:
Blessed be God the Father for His gift of this sacrifice of praise.
In the spirit of this Lenten season, let us pray:
Instruct us, Lord, in the ways of Your kingdom.

God of power and mercy, give us the spirit of prayer and repentance,
– with burning love for You and for all mankind.
Help us to work with You in making all things new in Christ,
– and in spreading justice and peace throughout the world.
Grant us the gift of simple faith,
– so that we may always and forever, sing Your praise.
Forgive us for failing to see Christ in the poor,
the distressed and the troublesome.
– and for our failure to grant honour to Your Son in their persons.

Closing Prayer:
“[Lord God] I believe in You, increase my faith.
All my hopes are in You, secure my trust.
I love You, teach me to love You more each day…
I adore You as my first beginning, I long for You as my final end.
I praise You as my constant helper
and call on You as my loving protector.
Guide me by Your Wisdom, correct me with Your Justice,
comfort me with Your Mercy, protect me by Your Power…
Lord, enlighten my understanding, enflame my will,
purify my heart, sanctify my soul.
Help me to repent of my past sins
and to rise above my human weaknesses
and to grow stronger as a Christian…”

(from the Universal Prayer by Pope Clement XI (1649-1721))

lord god I believe help my unbelief excerpt universal prayer pope clement - 17 may 2019

“I am of the same family as Christ – what more could I want?”

St John XXIII (1881-1963)

i-am-of-the-same-family-as-christ-what-more-could-i-want-st-john-xxiii-9-feb-2020 and 23 march 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, LENT 2020, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 22 March – So he went and washed and came back seeing.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Reflection – 22 March – Fourth “Laetare” Sunday of Lent, Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13, Psalm 23:1-6, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

So he went and washed and came back seeing. … John 9:7

lent - laetare sunday 4th sun of lent 22 march 2020

Daily Meditation:
Laetare Sunday:  Be joyful!

“The man born blind and healed, represents us when we do not realise that Jesus is the light, He is “the Light of the World,” when we are looking elsewhere, when we prefer to entrust ourselves to little lights, when we are groping in the dark.
Acting as children of the light requires a radical change of mindset, a capacity to judge men and things according to another scale of values, which comes from God.   What does it mean to have the true light, to walk in the light?   First of all it means abandoning false lights – the cold, vain light of prejudice against others, because prejudice distorts reality and ladens us with aversion to those whom we judge without mercy and condemn without appeal.
May the Blessed Virgin, who was the first to welcome Jesus, the Light of the World, obtain for us this grace of welcoming anew the light of faith this Lent, rediscovering the inestimable gift of Baptism, which all of us have received.   And may this new illumination transform us in attitude and action, so that we too, beginning with our poverty, our narrow-mindedness, may be bearers of a ray of the light of Christ.” … Pope Francis (Angelus, 26 March 2017)the man born blind and healed represents us - pope francis 22 march 2020

Intercessions:
Let us give glory to God, whose kindness knows no limit.
Through Jesus Christ, who lives forever to intercede for
us, let us pray:
Kindle in our hearts the fire of Your love.

God of mercy, let today be a day rich in good works,
-a day of generosity to all we meet.
From the waters of the flood you saved Noah through the ark,
-from the waters of baptism raise up to new life those
under instruction.
May we live not by bread only,
-but by every word falling from Your lips.
Help us to do away with all dissension,
-so that we may rejoice in Your gifts of peace and love.

Closing Prayer:

“All-powerful God, Benefactor and Creator of the universe,
hearken to my groaning in my peril.
Deliver me from fear and anguish,
free me by the strength of Your might, You who can do all…
O Lord Christ, cut the threads of my net 
with the sword of Your triumphant Cross, with the weapon of life.
This net encompasses me on every side, 
holding me captive so as to bring me to my death.
Guide to their rest, my tottering and unsteady steps,
heal the stifling fever of my heart.
I stand guilty before You,
take away from me my distress, the devil’s ploy;
remove the darkness of my anguished soul…

Renew in my soul the light-filled image of the glory of Your name, 
so great and so powerful.
Intensify the brilliance of Your grace upon the image of my face
and on the eyes of my spirit, I who am born of the earth (Gn 2:7).
Let my darkness vanish in a radiant purity, sinner that I am.
Drown my soul in Your living, eternal, heavenly divine light
so that the likeness of God the Trinity may increase within me.
You alone, O Christ, are blessed, together with the Father
for the praise of your Holy Spirit
for endless ages. 
Amen

Saint Gregory of Narek (c 951-c 1010)
Doctor of the Church
Book of prayers, no 40

Posted in LENT 2020, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 21 March – ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Reflection – 21 March – Saturday of the Third Week of Lent, Readings: Hosea 6:1-6, Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21, Luke 18:9-14

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ … Luke 18:13

sat-of-the-thirs-week-lent-30-march-2019 and 21 march 2020

Daily Meditation:
Fill our hearts with your love.

“We must only pray by placing ourselves before God just as we are. Not like the pharisee who prays with arrogance and hypocrisy. We are all taken up by the frenetic pace of daily life, often at the mercy of feelings, dazed and confused. It is necessary to learn how to rediscover the path to our heart, to recover the value of intimacy and silence, because the God who encounters us and speaks to us, is there. Only by beginning there can we, in our turn, encounter others and speak with them.”…Pope Francis – General Audience, 1 June 2016it-is-necessary-to-learn-how-to-pope-francis-30-march-2019 and 21 march 2020

“Come, let us return to the Lord,
for he has torn, that he may heal us,
he has stricken and he will bind us up.”
Hosea 6:1

Intercessions:
Thanks be to Christ the Lord, who brought us life by His death on the cross.
With our whole heart let us ask Him:
By Your death raise us to life.

Teacher and Saviour,
You have shown us Your fidelity and made us a new creation by Your passion,
– keep us from falling again into sin.
Help us to deny ourselves today,
– and not deny those in need.
May we receive this day of penance as Your gift,
– and give it back to You through works of mercy.
Master our rebellious hearts,
– and teach us generosity and love.

Closing Prayer:
God of infinite love,
You shower me with limitless gifts in my life.
In my every thought and action today
guide me to the bright and loving light of Your kingdom.
Help me to be aware of
the many ways You allow me
to share in Your life so intimately today.
Thank You for the gifts You have placed in my life.
Let me be grateful every moment of this day..
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

“The one who requests less than he deserves from God
will surely obtain more than he deserves.   
This is clearly shown by the tax-collector
who requested forgiveness but obtained justification.   
And the thief merely requested
to be remembered in His Kingdom
but he inherited Paradise.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)

te-one-who-requests-less-st-john-climacus-30march-2019 and 21 march 2020

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, LENT 2020, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 20 March – ‘… Love wipes away sin’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Reflection – 20 March – Friday of the Third week of Lent, Readings: Hosea 14:1-9 (2-10), Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17, Mark 12:28-34

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’   The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” …Mark 12:30-32

Daily Meditation:
Fill our hearts with Your love!

REFLECTION – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.”   And He could have stopped there.   Yet, Jesus adds something that was not asked by the doctor of the law.   He says, in fact:  “And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (v. 39).   And in this case too, Jesus does not invent the second commandment but takes it from the Book of Leviticus.   The novelty is in His placing these two commandments together — love for God and love for neighbour — revealing that they are in fact inseparable and complementary, two sides of the same coin.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 26 October 2014

fridayofthe3rdweeklent-29-march-2019 and 20 march 2020

Intercessions:
Thanks be to Christ the Lord, who brought us life by His death on the Cross.
With our whole heart let us ask Him:
By Your death raise us to life.

Teacher and Saviour,
You have shown us Your fidelity and made us a new creation by Your passion,
– keep us from falling again into sin.
Help us to deny ourselves today,
– and not deny those in need.
May we receive this day of penance as Your gift,
– and give it back to You through works of mercy.
May we see with Your eyes, everyday!
– and become images of You.
Master our rebellious hearts,
– and teach us generosity.
Closing Prayer:

Prayer Before The Crucifix
By St Vincent Strambi CP (1745-1824)

Jesus, by this saving sign,
bless this listless soul of mine.
Jesus, by Your feet nailed fast,
mend the missteps of my past.
Jesus, with Your riven hands,
bend my will to love’s demands.
Jesus, in Your Heart laid bare,
warm my inner coldness there.
Jesus, by Your thorn-crowned head,
still my pride till it is dead.
Jesus, by Your muted tongue,
stay my words that hurt someone.
Jesus, by Your tired eyes,
open mine to faith’s surprise.
Jesus, by Your fading breath,
keep me faithful until death.
Yes, Lord, by this saving sign,
save this wayward soul of mine.
Amen

prayer before the crucifix by st vincent strambi 13 sept 2019 a friday for catholic time

“If we look forward to receiving God’s mercy,
we can never fail to do good,
so long as we have the strength.
For if we share with the poor,
out of love for God,
whatever He has given to us,
we shall receive according to His promise,
a hundredfold in eternal happiness.
What a fine profit, what a blessed reward!
With outstretched arms He begs us
to turn toward Him, to weep for our sins
and to become the servants of love,
first for ourselves, then for our neighbours.
Just as water extinguishes a fire,
so love wipes away sin.”

St John of God (1495-1550)

with-outstretched-arms-he-begs-us-st-john-of-god-8-march-2019 and 20 march 2020

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, LENT 2020, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, St JOSEPH, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 19 March – “He has so much to say to us, in this time, of a strong sense of being orphaned.”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Reflection – 19 March – The Solemnity of the Feast of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church, Readings: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16, Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers,
I will raise up your offspring after you,
who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom. …2 Samuel 7:12

DAILY MEDITATION:
“He has so much to say to us, in this time, of a strong sense of being orphaned.”

“And this man, this dreamer, is able to accept this duty, this grave duty.   He has so much to say to us, in this time, of a strong sense of being orphaned.   And so this man takes the promise of God and carries it onward in silence, with strength, he carries it onward so that God’s Will might be done.   He is the man who doesn’t speak but obeys, the man of tenderness, the man capable of carrying forward the promises so that they might become solid, certain, the man who guarantees the stability of the Kingdom of God, the paternity of God, our sonship as children of God.
I like to think of Joseph as the guardian of weaknesses, of our weaknesses too, he is able to give birth to so many beautiful things from our weaknesses, even from our sins.” … Pope Francishe-is-the-man-who-doesnt-speak-but-obeys-pope-francis-19-march-2019-st-joseph and 19 march 2020

For thy steadfast love was established forever,
thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.

Psalm 89:2lent - thursday of the third week 19 march 2020

Intercessions:
Christ our Lord came among us as the light of the world, that we might walk in His light
and not in the darkness of death. Let us praise Him and cry out to Him:
Let Your word be a lamp to guide us.

God of mercy, help us today to grow in Your likeness,
– that we who sinned in Adam may rise again in Christ.
Let Your word be a lamp to guide us,
– that we may live the truth and grow always in Your love.
Teach us to be faithful in seeking the common good for Your sake,
– that Your light may shine on the whole human family by means of Your Church.
Touch our hearts to live in trust of Your saving help,
– and to make amends for our sins against Your wisdom and goodness.

Closing Prayer:

St Joseph, be our Protector
By St Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

St Joseph,
be always our protector.
That your internal spirit of peace,
silence, honest work and prayer
in the service of the Church
give us life and happiness
in union with your blessed Spouse,
our Sweet and Immaculate Mother
in the strong and mild love to Jesus,
Glorious and Immortal King
of the centuries and the people.
Amenst-joseph-be-our-protector-st-pope-john-xxiii-19-march-2019 and 19 march 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2020, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUTH, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Lenten Reflection – 18 March – Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Reflection – 18 March – Wednesday of the Third week of Lent, Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20, Matthew 5:17-19

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“Think not that I have come to abolish the law
and the prophets, I have come,
not to abolish them but to fulfil them.”…Matthew 5:17

wed-of-the-third-week-lent-matthew-5-17-27-march-2019 and 18 march 2020

Daily Meditation:
The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

“In Him the promise made through the shadows of prophecy stands revealed, along with the full meaning of the precepts of the law.   He is the one who teaches the truth of prophecy through His presence and makes obedience to the commandments possible through grace.
In the preaching of the holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith.   No-one should be ashamed of the Cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed.
No-one should fear to suffer for the sake of justice, no-one should lose confidence in the reward that has been promised.   The way to rest is through toil, the way to life is through death.   Christ has taken on Himself the whole weakness of our lowly human nature.   If then we are steadfast in our faith in Him and in our love for Him, we win the victory that He has won, we receive what He has promised.
When it comes to obeying the commandments or enduring adversity, the words uttered by the Father should always echo in our ears – “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.” … St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) – An excerpt from Sermo 51the way to rest is through toil the way to life is through death - st pope leo the great 18 march 2020

He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 147:20

Intercessions:
Blessed be God, the giver of salvation, who decreed that mankind should become a new creation in Himself, when all would be made new. With great confidence let us ask Him:
Lord, renew us in Your Spirit.

Lord, You promised a new heaven and a new earth; renew us daily through Your Spirit,
– that we may enjoy Your presence forever in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Help us to work with You to make this world alive with Your Spirit,
– and to build on earth a city of justice, love and peace.
Free us from all negligence and sloth,
– and give us joy in Your gifts of grace.
Deliver us from evil,
– and from slavery to the senses, which blinds us to goodness.
Closing Prayer:

O Sweet Name of Jesus
By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

O sweet Name of Jesus,
holy above all names
in heaven and on earth
and to which every knee,
both of men and of angels in heaven,
on earth and in hell bends.
You are the Way of the just,
the Glory of the saints,
the Hope of those in need,
the Balm of the sick,
the Love of the devout
and the Consolation
of those that suffer.
O, Jesus be to me a help and a protector
so that Your Name may be blessed for all times.
Ameno sweet name of jesus - thomas a kempis - 6 jan 2018

“Where can we fix our gaze, then, throughout this Lenten journey?
Upon the Crucified One.
Jesus on the cross is life’s compass, which directs us to heaven.
The poverty of the wood, the silence of the Lord, His loving self-emptying,
show us the necessity of a simpler life, free from anxiety about things.
From the cross, Jesus teaches us the great courage involved in renunciation.”

Pope Francis

Basilica of Santa Sabina
Ash Wednesday, 6 March 2019where can we fix our gaze - upon the crucified one - pope francis 18 march 2020

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST

Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – He is the key to our destiny

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – Monday of the Third week of Lent

“Jesus Christ
You have heard Him spoken of,
indeed the greater part of you are already His – you are Christians.
So, to you Christians I repeat His name,
to everyone I proclaim Him –
Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end,
the Alpha and the Omega.
He is the king of the new world.
He is the secret of history.
He is the key to our destiny.”

St Pope Paul VI (1897-1978)

so-to-you-christians-i-repeat-his-name-st-popepaul-vi-no-2-25-nov-christ-the-king-2018and-2019-24-nov and 16 march 2020

“When did Jesus reveal Himself as king?
In the event of the Cross!”

Pope Francis

when-did-jesus-reveal-himself-as-king-pope-francis-25-nov-2018-christ-the-king-no-2 and 16 march 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, LENT 2020, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 16 March – ‘When His place becomes our place …’

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Lenten Reflection – 16 March – Monday of the Third week of Lent, Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15, Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4, Luke 4:24-30

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.” … Luke 4:24

luke 4 24 no prophet is accepted - when his place becomes our place - pope francis 16 march 2020

Daily Meditation:
We cannot be saved without you.

“When His place becomes our place,
when His time becomes our time,
when His person becomes our life,
then the prophecies come to fulfilment in us.
Then Jesus is born within us.
He becomes the living God for me.” 

Pope Francis
6 January 2019

Today we are reminded of the terrible irony – a prophet is not well received at home.
Jesus was not accepted by those who saw Him as all too human.
And, He was unable to act with power in their lives.
Is this Lenten season getting us out of our comfortable complacency,
and helping us see the prophetic one in our midst?
Is it helping us listen better, reach out with deeper longing,
find a greater intimacy with the only one who can save us?.

lent monday of the third week 14 march 2020

My soul is thirsting for the living God:
when shall I see God face to face?
Psalm 42

Intercessions:
Blessed be Jesus our Saviour.
Through His death He has opened up for us
the way of salvation.
Direct Your people Lord, in the path of true life.

Merciful God, in baptism, You gave us a life that is new
– may we ever grow in Your likeness.
Let us bring joy this day to those who are in need
– and draw us nearer to You, through the help we give them.
Help us to do what is right and good
– let us seek You always with all our heart.
Forgive us for the times we have hurt other people
– Lord have mercy on us.

Closing Prayer:
Merciful God,
Free Your Church from the sins of this world
and protect us from evil we see
and the evil we prefer to ignore.
We need Your guidance, Lord
for we cannot do this alone.
Only with Your help can we be saved.
Thank You for Your desire to save us and love us.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

“He is the Gospel of God,
He is the Mercy of God,
He is the liberation of God,
He is the One who became poor
so as to enrich us with His poverty.”

Pope Francis – Angelus, 24 January 2016

he-is-the-gospel-of-god-pope-francis-27-jan-2019 and 16 march 2020

Posted in PRAYERS for PRIESTS

The Seventh Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis – 13 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Happy Anniversary, dearest Pope Francis!

The Seventh Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis – 13 March

7th anniversary pope francis election 13 march 2020

History will remember you as
the Pope of Mercy.
May you always be docile to the Holy Spirit!
We are praying for you daily…

Pray for Pope Francis always, amen!

Prayer for Pope Francis

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favourably on Your servant Francis,
whom You have set
at the head of Your Church as her shepherd;
Grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the
unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen

prayer-for-pope-francis-5-may-2019 and 13 march 2020

Posted in LENT 2020, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, The WORD

Lenten Reflection –12 March – ‘To ignore a poor man is to scorn God!’

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Lenten Reflection –12 March – Thursday of the Second week of Lent, Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1:1-4, 6, Luke 16:19-31

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple
and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus…”
Luke 16:19–20THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT - 12 MARCH 2020

DAILY MEDITATION:
“Lazarus is a good example of the silent cry of the poor throughout the ages and the contradictions of a world in which immense wealth and resources are in the the hands of the few.   To ignore a poor man is to scorn God!   We must learn this well – to ignore the poor is to scorn God.to ignore a poor man is to scorn god - pope francis 21 march 2019 thurs2ndweeklent

There is a detail in the parable that is worth noting – the rich man has no name but only an adjective – ‘the rich man’, while the name of the poor man is repeated five times and ‘Lazarus’ means ‘God helps’.   Lazarus, who is lying at the gate, is a living reminder to the rich man to remember God but the rich man does not receive that reminder.   Hence, he will be condemned not because of his wealth but for being incapable of feeling compassion for Lazarus and for not coming to his aid.

God’s mercy toward us is linked to our mercy toward our neighbour, when this is lacking, also that of not finding room in our closed heart, He cannot enter.   If I do not thrust open the door of my heart to the poor, that door remains closed.   Even to God. This is terrible.”….Pope Francis – General Audience, 18 May 2016luke 16 19-20 there was a rich man - there is a detail - pope francis - 21 march 2019 thurs2ndweeklent

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers
but his delight is in the law of the Lord
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2

Intercessions:
God has revealed Himself in Christ.
Let us praise His goodness
and ask Him from our hearts:
Remember us, Lord, for we are your children.

Teach us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Church,
– that it may be more effective for ourselves and for the world as the sacrament of salvation.
Lover of mankind, inspire us to work for human progress,
– seeking to spread Your kingdom in all we do.
May our hearts thirst for Christ,
– the fountain of living water.
Forgive us our sins,
– and direct our steps into the ways of charity, justice and sincerity.

Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
I hear Your invitation, “Come back to me”
and I am filled with such a longing to return to You.
Show me the way to return.
Lead me this day in good works I do in Your name
and send Your Spirit to guide me and strengthen my faith.
I ask only to feel Your love in my life today
and to spread it to all, especially those most in need.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen

“All of our religion is but a false religion and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God, if we have not that universal charity for everyone, for the good and for the bad, for the poor people as well as for the rich, for all those who do us harm as much as for those who do us good.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)all of our religion is but a false - st john vianney thurs2ndweeklent 21 march 2019

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 February – ‘Spiritual schizophrenia’ 

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One Minute Reflection – 18 February – Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: James 1:12-18, Psalm 94:12-15, 18-19, Mark 8:14-21 and the Memorial of Saint Francis Regis Clet CM (1748-1820) Priest and Martyr

And he cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”…Mark 8:15

REFLECTION – “Jesus tells us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.   That leaven is hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is an internal division, you say one thing and do another.   It is a sort of spiritual schizophrenia.   Furthermore a hypocrite is a phoney – he seems good, courteous but he has a dagger behind him.   A hypocrite is two-faced.   He is a phoney. Jesus, speaking of these doctors of the law, affirms that they say one thing but do not do. This is another form of hypocrisy, it is existential nominalism – those who believe that, by saying things, everything is in order.   No, things must be done, not just said.   On the contrary, a hypocrite is a nominalist, he believes that everything is done with words. Moreover, a hypocrite is incapable of blaming himself, he never finds a smudge on himself, he blames others.   Just think of the speck and the log, this is precisely how we can describe this leaven which is hypocrisy.
May the Lord give to us, to all of us, the Holy Spirit and the grace of the clarity to tell ourselves what is the leaven I grow with, which is the leaven I act with.   Am I a just and transparent person or am I a hypocrite?”…Pope Francis – Santa Marta, 14 October 2016mark-8-15-take-heed-beware-of-the-leaven-jesus-tells-us-pope-francis-19-feb-2019-no-2 and 18 feb 2020

PRAYER – God of mercy, teach us to live as You have ordained.   Help us to follow Your commandments with courage and steadfast devotion.   Let our Saviour be our master, help us to learn from Him, the ways of prayer in silence.   Fill us with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that we may learn.   Grant blessed Trinity, that by the prayers of St Francis Regis Clet, we may grow in holiness.   Through Jesus our Lord, in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amenst francis regis clet pray for us 18 feb 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 February – What is my treasure? 

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One Minute Reflection – 13 February – Wednesday of the Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: 1 Kings10:1-10, Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40, Mark7:14-23 and the Memorial of St Eulalia of Barcelona (c 290-c 303) Virgin and Martyr

And he said, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man.   For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.   All these evil things come from within and they defile a man.” Mark 7:20-23

REFLECTION – “The boundary between good and evil does not pass outside of us but rather within us.   We could ask ourselves: where is my heart?   Jesus said: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”   What is my treasure?   Is it Jesus, is it His teaching?   If so, then the heart is good.   Or is my treasure something else?   Thus it is a heart which needs purification and conversion.   Without a purified heart, one cannot have truly clean hands and lips which speak sincere words of love — it is all duplicitous, a double life — lips which speak words of mercy, of forgiveness but only a sincere and purified heart can do this.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 30 August 2015mark-7-20-what-comes-out-of-a-man-the-boundary-between-good-and-evil-pope-francis-13feb2019 and 12 Feb 2020

PRAYER – God our Saviour, through the grace of Baptism, You made us children of light. Hear our prayer, that we may always walk in that light and work for truth, as Your witnesses before men.   May our hearts be purified by You grace and may our hands and lips speak with sincere words of love.   St Eulalia of Barcelona, child as you were, you bravely withstood all the assaults against Christ your Lord, with zeal and passion, please pray for us.   We make our prayer, through Christ our Lord with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.st eulalia pray for us 12 feb 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – 2 February – The Presentation of the Lord

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 February – The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

“Be a lamp then in heart, in hand, in lips.
The lamp in your heart will shine for you,
the lamp in your hand or on your lips
will shine out for your neighbours.
The lamp in the heart,
is loving faith,
the lamp in the hand,
is the example of good works,
the lamp on the lips, is edifying speech.”

Bl Guerric of Igny (c 1080-1157)be-a-lamp-then-bl-guerric-of-igny-2-feb-2019 and 2020

“The glorious St Simeon also was very happy…
to carry Him as did Our Lady…
we do this when we endure with love,
the labours and pains He sends us,
that is to say, when the love
which we bear to the Law of God, 
makes us find His yoke easy and pleasing,
so that we love these pains and labours
and gather sweetness in the midst of bitterness.
This is nothing else but to carry Our Lord in our arms.
Now if we carry Him in this way,
He will, without doubt, Himself carry us.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Churchthe glorious st simeon no doubt - st francis de sales 2 feb 2020

“Simeon gave back Jesus to His Mother,
he was only suffered to keep Him for one moment.
But we are far happier than Simenon.
We may keep Him always if we will.
In Communion He comes,
not only into our arms
but into our hearts.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)simeon gave back jesus to his mother - st john vianney - 2 feb 2020

“Those who have met Jesus no longer fear anything.
We too can repeat the words of the elderly Simeon,
he too was blessed by the encounter with Christ,
after a lifetime spent in anticipation of this event:
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Lk 2:29-30).
At that instant, at last, we will no longer need anything,
we will no longer see in a confused way.
We will no longer weep in vain,
because all has passed,
even the prophecies, even consciousness.
But not love – this endures.
Because “love never ends” (1 Cor 13:8).”…

Pope Francis

General Audience, 25 October 2017we-too-can-repeat-the-words-of-the-elderly-simeon-2-feb-2019 AND 2 FEB 2020

Posted in QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 January – ‘Let us find the courage to reclaim the soil…’

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 January – Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year A – Readings: 2 Samuel 7:4-17, Psalm 89:4-5, 27-30, Mark 4:1-20

“The sower sows the word. … And others are the ones sown among thorns, they are those who hear the word but the cares of the world and the delight in riches and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word and it proves unfruitful.”

Mark 4:14,18-19

“Dear brothers and sisters,
Jesus invites us today to look inside ourselves –
to give thanks for our good soil
and to tend the soil that is not yet good.
Let us ask ourselves, if our heart is open to welcome
the seed of the Word of God with faith.
Let us ask ourselves, if our rocks of laziness
are still numerous and large,
let us identify our thorns of vice and call them by name…
Let us find the courage to reclaim the soil,
to effect a new conversion of our heart,
bringing to the Lord in Confession
and in prayer our rocks and our thorns.
In doing this, Jesus, the Good Sower,
will be glad to carry out an additional task –
to purify our hearts,
by removing the rocks and the thorns
which choke His Word.”

Pope Francis – Angelus, 16 July 2017mark-41418-19-pope-francis-the-sower-and-the-soil-30-jan-2019 and 29 jan 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The CHRIST CHILD, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 January – ‘Then Jesus is born within us…’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 11 January – Saturday after Epiphany, Readings: 1 John 5:14-21, Psalm 149:1-6, 9, John 3:22-30

“He must increase
but I must decrease.”

John 3:30john-3-30-he-must-increase-12-jan-2019-no-2.and 11 jan 2020jpg.jpg

“Christ is born, God from His Father,
man through His mother.
He was born from His Father’s immortality
and His mother’s virginity.
From the Father, without the aid of a mother,
from the mother, without that of a father.
From His Father, without time,
from His mother, without seed.
According to His Father,
He is the principle of life,
according to His mother,
the ending of death.
According to His Father,
He was born to determine the order of days,
according to His mother,
to consecrate the day that is here.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of the Churchchrist is born god from his father man through his mother - st augustine 11 jan 2020.jpg

“When His place becomes our place,
when His time becomes our time,
when His person becomes our life,
then the prophecies come to fulfilment in us.
Then Jesus is born within us.
He becomes the living God for me.
Today we are asked to imitate the Magi.
They do not debate – they set out.
They do not stop to look but enter the house of Jesus.
They do not put themselves at the centre
but bow down before the One who is the centre.
They do not remain glued to their plans
but are prepared to take other routes.
Their actions reveal a close contact with the Lord,
a radical openness to Him,
a total engagement with Him.
With Him, they use the language of love,
the same language that Jesus, though an infant, already speaks.
Indeed, the Magi go to the Lord not to receive but to give.

when-his-place-becomes-our-place-pope-franics-epip-homily-2019-9-jan-2019 and 11 jan 2020

Let us ask ourselves this question –
at Christmas, did we bring gifts to Jesus for His party,
or did we only exchange gifts among ourselves?

let-us-ask-ourselves-pope-francis-9-jan-2019-epiphany-homily-2019 and 11 jan 2020.jpg

In this Christmas season, now drawing to its close,
let us not miss the opportunity
to offer a precious gift to our King,
who came to us,
not in worldly pomp
but in the luminous poverty of Bethlehem.
If we can do this,
His light will shine upon us.”

Pope Francis

6 January 2019

in-this-christmas-season-pope-francis-9-jan-2019 and 11 jan 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SPIRIT

Quote of the Day – 9 January – The Spirit of the Lord

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Quote of the Day – 9 January – The Memorial of Blessed Alix le Clerc/Teresa of Jesus CND (1576-1622) known as Mother Alix and the Fourth Day after Epiphany

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”

Luke 4:18luke-4-18-the-spirit-of-the-lord-is-upon-me-27-jan-2019 and 9 Jan 2020.jpg

“My God and Lord,
send me the light
of Your Holy and Blessed Spirit,
that I may find the path of peace
which You declared to us
on the day of Your holy Nativity…
I implore You,
my God and Saviour,
to grant us all such grace,
that we may walk
by the road
it has pleased You
to tread for us…”

Blessed Alix le Clerc/Teresa of Jesus (1576-1622)my god and lord send me the light of your holy and blessed spirit - bl alix le clerc 9 jan 2020.jpg

“He is the Gospel of God,
He is the Mercy of God,
He is the liberation of God,
He is the One who became poor
so as to enrich us
with His poverty.”

Pope Francis

Angelus, 24 January 2016he is the gospel of god - pope francis - 27 jan 2019.jpg

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The INCARNATION

Quote/s of the Day – 5 January – Epiphany

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 5 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

“If the Magi had come in search of an earthly King,
they would have been disconcerted at finding
that they had taken the trouble to come
such a long way for nothing.
Consequently they would have
neither adored nor offered gifts.
But since they sought a heavenly King,
though they found in Him
no signs of royal pre-eminence,
yet, content with the testimony
of the star alone,
they adored – for they saw a man
and they acknowledged God.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Churchsince they sought a heavenly king - st john chrysostom epiphany 5 jan 2020.jpg

“The Gospel account of the Magi
describes their journey from the East
as a journey of the spirit,
as a journey toward the encounter with Christ.
They are attentive to signs that indicate His presence,
they are tireless in facing the trials of the search,
they are courageous in deducing the implications
for life that derive from encounter with the Lord.
This is life – Christian life, is a journey
but being attentive, tireless and courageous.
A Christian, journeys like this.
Journey attentively, tirelessly, courageously!”matthew-2-9-when-they-heard-the-king-the-gospel-account-of-the-magi-pope-francis-6-jan-2019 and 5 jan 2020.jpg

“And as they fell to their knees
before the small, poor and vulnerable Infant,
the unexpected and unknown Child of Bethlehem,
they discovered the glory of God.”

Pope Francis

Homily for Epiphany 2017and-as-they-fell-pope-francis-epiphany-2017-7-jan-2018 and 5 jan 2020.jpg

More Epiphany quotes:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/06/quote-s-of-the-day-6-january-the-solemnity-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord/

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 January – Blessed be the Most Holy Name of Jesus without end!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 3 January – Christmas Weekday

and the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

“And whatever you ask in my name,
I will do, so that the Father
may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me,
in my name,
I will do it.”

John 14:14-14john-14-13-14-10-jan-2018 and 2020 and whatever you ask in my name i will do, so that.jpg

“And you shall call His name Jesus,
because in His Name we adore
the entire majesty of the Godhead.
All who dwell in the heavens,
those who abide upon the earth
and everyone of those
who are held in the depths of hell,
bow down prostate to this Name.
This is the Name which gave sight to the blind,
hearing to the deaf,
agility to the lame,
speech to the mute
and life to the dead,
The power of this Name
forced the mastery of the devil entirely,
from the bodies of the possessed.”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
Father and Doctor of the Churchthis is the name - st peter chrysologus - 3 jan 2020.jpg

“The Holy Name of Jesus is, first of all, an all-powerful prayer.
Our Lord, Himself, solemnly promises,
that whatever we ask the Father in His Name,
we shall receive.
God never fails to keep His word.
Each time we say “Jesus,”
it is an act of perfect love,
for, we offer to God,
the infinite love of Jesus”

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Doctor of the Churchthe holy name of jesus is first of all an all powerful prayer - st alphonsus liguori 3 jan 2020.jpg

”The invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus,
is the simplest way of praying always.
When the Holy Name is repeated often
by a humbly attentive heart,
the prayer is not lost by heaping up empty praises
but holds fast to the Word and
”brings forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).
This prayer is possible at all times
because it is not one occupation among others
but the only occupation –
that of loving God which animates
and transfigures every action in Christ Jesus”

CCC 2668ccc2668-the-invocation-of-the-holy-name-3-jan-2019 and 2020.jpg

“We, Jesuits, want to be conferred the name of Jesus,
militate under the standard of His Cross and this means,
to have the same sentiments of Christ.
It means to think like Him,
love like Him, see like Him, walk like Him.
It means to do what He did
and with His same sentiments,
with the sentiments of His Heart.
The heart of Christ is the heart of a God
who, out of love, “emptied” Himself.

Pope Francis

(3 January 2014)we-jesuits-want-to-be-pope-francis-on-3-jan-2014-my-image-3-jan-201 and 2020 in quotes.jpg

Blessed be the Most Holy Name of Jesus without end!

blessed be the most holy name of jesus without end - 3 jan 2020.jpg

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, PRACTISING CATHOLIC

Thought for the Day – 1 January – Take heart, dear children, here I am, your Mother!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 1 January – The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lordtake heart dear children here i am your mother - pope francis 1 jan 2019.jpg

Excerpt
Pope Francis’ Homily on
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
1 January 2019

“All who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them” (Lk 2:18).   To be amazed -this is what is asked of us today, at the conclusion of the Octave of Christmas, as we continue to contemplate the Child born for us, lacking everything, yet abounding in love. Amazement is what we should feel at the beginning of each year, for life is a gift that constantly gives us a chance to make a new start, even from the most lowly of circumstances.

Today is also a day to be amazed by the Mother of God.   God appears as a little child, held in the arms of a woman who feeds her Creator.   The statue before our eyes depicts the Mother and Child so close as to appear as one.   That is the mystery we celebrate today, which gives rise to boundless amazement – God has become one with humanity forever.   God and man, always together, that is the good news of this new year.   God is no distant lord, dwelling in splendid isolation above the heavens but love incarnate, born like us of a mother, in order to be a brother to each of us, to be close to us – the God of closeness.   He rests on the lap of His mother, who is also our mother and from there he pours out upon humanity a new tenderness.   Thus we come to understand more fully God’s love, which is both paternal and maternal, like that of a mother who never stops believing in her children and never abandons them.   God-with-us, Emmanuel, loves us despite our mistakes, our sins and the way we treat our world.   God believes in mankind, because its first and pre-eminent member is His own Mother.

At the beginning of the year, let us implore from Mary the grace to be amazed at the God of surprises.   Let us renew the amazement we felt when faith was first born in us. The Mother of God helps us – the Mother who gave birth to the Lord, now presents us, reborn, to the Lord.   She is a mother who generates in her children the amazement of faith, because faith is an encounter, not a religion.   Without amazement, life becomes dull and routine and so it is with faith.   The Church too needs to renew her amazement at being the dwelling place of the living God, the Bride of the Lord, a Mother who gives birth to her children.   Otherwise, she risks turning into a beautiful museum of the past.   A “Church museum”.   Our Lady, instead, gives the Church the feel of a home, a home in which the God of newness dwells.   Let us receive with amazement the mystery of the Mother of God, as the inhabitants of Ephesus did at the time of the Council.   Like them, let us acclaim her “Holy Mother of God”.   From her, let us allow ourselves to be gazed upon, to be embraced, to be taken by the hand.

Let us allow ourselves to be gazed upon.   Especially in times of need, when we are entangled in life’s knots, we rightly lift our eyes to Our Lady, to Our Mother.   Yet first, we should let ourselves be gazed upon by Our Lady.   When she gazes upon us, she does not see sinners but children.   It is said that the eyes are the mirror of the soul, the eyes of Mary, full of grace, reflect the beauty of God, they show us a reflection of heaven.   Jesus Himself said that the eye is “the lamp of the body” (Mt 6:22) – the eyes of Our Lady are able to bring light to every dark corner, everywhere they rekindle hope.   As she gazes upon us, she says: “Take heart, dear children, here I am, your Mother!”

Holy Mother of God, OUR  mother, Pray for Us!mother of god and our mother - mary pray for us - 14 may 2018.jpg

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC

Thought for the Day – 25 December – CHRISTMAS IS YOU! By Pope Francis

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 25 December – The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christchristmas is you pope francis - 25 dec 2019.jpg

CHRISTMAS IS YOU!
By Pope Francis

Christmas is usually a noisy party –
we could use a bit of silence, to hear the voice of Love.

Christmas is you,
when you decide to be born again each day and let God into your soul.

The Christmas pine is you,
when you resist vigorous winds and difficulties of life.

The Christmas decorations are you,
when your virtues are colours that adorn your life.

The Christmas bell is you,
when you call, gather and seek to unite.

You are also a Christmas light,
when you illuminate with your life the path of others with kindness, patience, joy and generosity.

The Christmas angels are you,
when you sing to the world, a message of peace, justice and love.

The Christmas star is you,
when you lead someone to meet the Lord.

You are also the wise men,
when you give the best you have, no matter who.

Christmas music is you,
when you conquer the harmony within you.

The Christmas gift is you,
when you are truly friend and brother, of every human being.

The Christmas card is you,
when kindness is written in your hands.

The Christmas greeting is you,
when you forgive and re-establish peace,
even when you suffer.

The Christmas dinner is you,
when you serve bread and hope,
to the poor man, who is by your side.

You are, yes, Christmas night,
when humble and conscious,
you receive in the silence of the night the Saviour of the world
without noise or great celebrations.
You are a smile of trust and tenderness,
in the inner peace of a perennial Christmas
that establishes the Kingdom within you.

A very Merry Christmas for all those who look like Christmas.

Written by Papa Francisco
25 December 2014

christmas is you - pope francis 25 dec 2014 - 25 dec 2019.jpg

And from Anastpaul – Breathing Catholic
My wishes for a most Holy and Blessed Christmas
May the little Babe of Bethlehem
fill your hearts with His joy, peace and love!

Ana

my-christmas-wishes - adjusted 2019.jpg