Our Morning Offering – 11 June – Feast of St Barnabas the Apostle, Martyr, The “Son of Encouragement.”
Exsultet Orbis! Let the World Rejoice! Unknown Author
Now let the earth with joy resound, And Heaven the chant re-echo round; Nor Heaven nor earth too high can raise The great Apostles’ glorious praise.
O ye who, throned in glory dread, Shall judge the living and the dead, Lights of the world forever more! To you the suppliant prayer we pour.
Ye close the Sacred Gates on high. At your command apart they fly. O loose for us the guilty chain We strive to break and strive in vain.
Sickness and health your voice obey, At your command they go or stay. From sin’s disease our souls restore; In good confirm us more and more.
So when the world is at its end. And Christ to Judgment shall descend, May we be called, those joys to see Prepared from all eternity.
Praise to the Father, with the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One; As ever was in ages past And so shall be while ages last. Amen
(Roman Breviary for the Common of Apostles) An Office Hymn that was traditionally prescribed for Vespers and Lauds on the Feasts of Apostles and Evangelists outside Easter time. The Hymn is found as early as the 10th Century in a Hymnal of Moissac Abbey.
Saint of the Day – 11June – Saint Bardo of Mainz (c981-c1053) Archbishop of Mainz from 1031 until 1051, the Abbot of Werden from 1030 until 1031 and the Abbot of Hersfeld in 1031. Ascetic, renowned for his piety and devotion, for his care and love of the poor, renowned Preacher, called “The Chrysostom” of his time. Born in c981 in Oppershofen, Germany and died on 10 or 11 June in 1051 or 1053 (records vary) in Oberdorla near Mühlhausen in Thuringia, of natural causes. Patronage – of Oppershofen. Also known as – “The Chrysostom” of his time and area, Bardo of Magonza, Bardon, Bardone. Additional Memorial – 15 June (Cathedral of Mainz, Germany) and 10 June (depending on the date chosen for his death. Name means: battle axe and/or wolf [which our Saint was neither] (Old High German).
Statue at the town hall in St Bardo’s birthplace Oppershofen of which Town he is the Patron Saint
Bardo was the son of a noble family, related to Empress Gisela, the wife of Emperor Conrad II. He became a Benedictine Monk in the Monastery – on the site of the present Cathedral – in Fulda. There, in around 1018, Bardo was appointed as the Head of the Cathedral school and Provost of the new provostship at St Andreas in Fulda.
In 1029, Bardo was appointed as the Abbot in Werden – today the district of Essen-Werden and in 1031, as the Abbot also in Hersfeld – today’s Bad Hersfeld. From 1031 Bardo became the Archbishop of Mainz. Then, in 1036, Bardo Consecrated the new Cathedral dedicated to St Martin of Tours, the construction of which Bardo had been involved.
Statue of St Bardo in the Crypt of the Fulda Cathedral
Bardo lived so ascetically that Pope Leo IX admonished him to pay more attention to his health. His piety and charity became famous, especially towards the travelling people.
Bardo was also praised as a preacher and was called “The Chrysostom” of his time . Under Bardo, Mainz Cathedral was completed. he Consecrated it in 1036 in the presence of Emperor Conrad and Bardo founded the Cathedral and St John’s Foundation in Mainz, as well as the Monastery of St James. In 1041/42 he went to war against Bohemia with Emperor Henry III .
Bardo died during a journey and was buried in his new Cathedral in Mainz . His Tomb in the Cathedral in Mainz became a place of pilgrimage where numerous miracles occurred and still do.
The Cathedral built and Consecrated by St Bardo in Mainz
St Herebald of Bretagne Bl Hugh of Marchiennes Bl Jean de Bracq
Bl Kasper of Grimbergen St Maximus of Naples
St Parisius ECMC (c1160-1267) Priest and Monk of the Camaldolese Hermits of Mount Corona, Spiritual Director, Reformer, Miracle-worker during his life and after his death. A very long life of humble and loving service, for the glory of God!: The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Treviso, Saint Parisio, Priest of the Camaldolese Order, who for seventy-seven years took care of the spiritual direction of the Nuns with healthy advice, dying at the age of one hundred and eight.” https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/11/saint-of-the-day-11-june-st-parisius-ecmc-c-1160-1267-a-very-long-life-of-humble-and-loving-service-for-the-glory-of-god/
St Rembert of Hamburg (c830-888) Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, Missionary, Miracle-worker, Founder of Churches and Monasteries, Disciple of St Ansgar (801-865) “The Apostle of the North.” The Roman Martyrology reads : “In Bremen in Saxony, in today’s Germany, Saint Rembert, Bishop of Hamburg and Bremen, who, a faithful disciple of Saint Ansgar and his successor, extended his ministry to the regions of Denmark and Sweden and, at the time of the invasions of the Normans, he took care of the ransom of the Christian prisoners.” A True Shepherd: https://anastpaul.com/2023/06/11/saint-of-the-day-11-june-st-rembert-of-hamburg-c830-888-archbishop/
St Riagail of Bangor Bl Stephen Bandelli OP St Tochumra of Kilmore St Tochumra of Tuam
Martyrs of Tavira – 7 Beati: Members of the Knights of Santiago de Castilla. During the re-conquest of the Iberian peninsula from the Muslims by Christian forces, in a period of truce between the armies, the group was allowed to leave the Portuguese camp to hunt. Near Tavira, Portugal, he and his companions were ambushed and killed by a Muslim force. Making a reprisal attack, the Portuguese army took the city of Tavira. The murdered knights were considered to be martyrs as they died in an action defending the faith. They were – Blessed Alvarus Garcia, Blessed Beltrão de Caia, Blessed Damião Vaz, Blessed Estêvão Vasques, Blessed Garcia Roiz, Blessed Mendus Valle, Blessed Pedro Rodrigues’ They were Martyred in 1242 outside Tavira, Faro, Portugal. Their relics are enshrined under the altar of Saint Barnabas in the Church of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels (modern Santa Maria do Castelo) in Tavria, Portugal.
Mercedarian Martyrs of Damietta: Three Mercedarian Lay Knights who worked to ransom Christians enslaved by Muslims. During the 7th Crusade, a plague swept through the Christian army and these knights volunteered to work with the sick. During this work they were captured by Muslims and ordered to convert to Islam; they refused. They were tortured, taken to Damietta, Egypt where they were murdered for their faith. They were thrown from a tower in the mid-13th century in Damietta, Egypt.
Quote/s of the Day – 10 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Within the Octave of the Sacred Heart – Proverbs 31:10-31; Matthew 13,44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, … sold all that he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:46
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where rust and moth consume and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves, treasures in Heaven …”
Matthew 6:19-20
“Sell what you possess and give alms. Make for yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure unfailing in Heaven, where neither thief draws near, nor moth destroys.”
Luke 12:33
“For the man who loves God, it is sufficient to please the One he loves and, there is no greater recompense to be sought, than the loving itself. For love is from God, by the very fact that God Himself is love. The good and chaste soul is so happy to be filled with Him that it desires to take delight in nothing else. For what the Lord says is very true: ‘Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.’”
St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) ather and Doctor of the Church
“Whoever thinks well on eternity, troubles himself little about what happens in these three or four moments of mortal life.”
“By giving yourself to God, you not only receive Himself in exchange but, eternal life as well!”
One Minute Reflection – 10 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Within the Octave of the Sacred Heart – St Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) Widow – Proverbs 31:10-31; Matthew 13,44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, … sold all that he had and bought it.” – Matthew 13:46
REFLECTION – “Among the gifts of grace which Francis received from God the generous Giver, he merited, as a special privilege, to grow in the riches of simplicity through his love of the highest poverty. The holy man saw that poverty was the close companion of the Son of God and now that it was rejected by the whole world, he was eager to espouse it in everlasting love. For the sake of poverty, he not only left his father and mother but also gave away everything he had. No -one was so greedy for gold, as he was for poverty; nor was anyone so anxious, to guard his treasure, as he was in guarding this pearl of the Gospel.
In this, especially, would his sight be offended, if he saw in the friars, anything which did not accord completely with poverty. Indeed, from the beginning of his religious life until his death, his only riches were a tunic, a cord and underclothes and, with this much, he was content. He used to frequently call to mind with tears the poverty of Jesus Christ and his mother, claiming that it was the queen of the virtues because, it shone forth so preeminently in the King of kings (1Tm 6:15) and in the Queen, His Mother.
When the Friars asked him at a gathering what virtue does more to make one a friend of Christ, he replied as if opening the hidden depths of his heart: “Know, brothers, that poverty is the special way to salvation, as the stimulus of humility and the root of perfection, whose fruit is manifold but hidden. This is the Gospel’s treasure “hidden in a field” (Mt 13:44); to buy this, we should sell everything and, in comparison to this, we should spurn everything we cannot sell.” – St Bonaventure (1221-1274) Franciscan, Doctor of the Church (Life of Saint Francis).
PRAYER – O God, Who made blessed Queen Margaret glorious by her remarkable charity toward the poor; grant, by her intercession and example that Thy charity may continually increase in our hearts. 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).
ALL PRAISE, honour and glory to the Divine Heart of JESUS.Indulgenced– 50 Days, once a day. 168 Pope Leo XIII, 14 June 1901.
Saint of the Day – 10 June – Saint Maurinus of Cologne (9th Century) Abbot, Martyr. Died in the 9th Century in Cologne. Also known as – Maurino.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Cologne, St Maurinus, Abbot and Martyr.”
St Maurinus Shrine in Cologne
On 13 October 966, during the reconstruction of the Church of St Pantaleone in Cologne, at the time of Archbishop Folcmarus, successor of St Brunone, the Relics of our Saint were found with an epitaph indicating the his identity.
This epitaph recalled that he was an Abbot and that he was killed in the atrium of the same Church of St Pantaleone. The epitaph does not indicate a date but only the month of June.
For this reason, it is not possible to specify the era in which he lived, especially since there is no mention of him in any document prior to the discovery in 966. Even the title of Abbot is not sufficient to indicate a Monastery but he could have been Abbot of a Collegiate Chapter founded in the same Church. as they existed at that time. Nor is there any further explanation as to his Martyrdom, why and how.
His Relics are kept in a Romanesque casket, a true masterpiece of goldsmith’s craft, dated around 1180. In 1922, it was brought back to the Church of St Pantaleone, from the Chapel of St Maria alla Schnurgasse. Since the 12th Century the Feast of St Maurinud is celebrated throughout the Diocese of Cologne on 10 June and in the Universal Church.
St Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) Queen consort of Scotland, Wife and Mother, Apostle of the poor, Reformer. Saint Margaret’s name signifies “pearl” “a fitting name,” says Bishop Turgot, her Confessor and her first Biographer, “for one such as she.” Her soul was like a precious pearl. A life spent amidst the luxury of a Royal Court never dimmed its lustre, or stole it away from Him who had bought it with His Blood. Pope Innocent IV Canonised St Margaret in 1250 in recognition of her personal holiness, fidelity to the Roman Catholic Church, work for Ecclesiastical reform and charity. In 1693 Pope Innocent XII moved her feast day to 10 June but it was changed after Vatican II to 16 November. Illustrious St Margaret: https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/16/saint-of-the-day-16-november-st-margaret-of-scotland-1045-1093-queen/ AND: https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/10/saint-of-the-day-10-june-st-margaret-of-scotland-1045-1093/
Bl Amata of San Sisto St Amantius of Tivoli St Asterius of Petra St Bardo of Mainz
St Caerealis of Tivoli St Censurius of Auxerre (Died 486) Bishop St Crispulus of Rome
Blessed Diana d’Andalo OP (1201-1236) Virgin, Nun of the Order of Preachers Beatified on 8 August 1888 by Pope Leo XII. The Roman Martyrology states: “In Bologna, blessed Diana d’Andalò, Virgin, who, having overcome all the impediments posed by her family, took a vow of cloistered life in the hands of Saint Dominic himself, entering the Monastery of Saint Agnes, which she founded.” Her Holy Life: https://anastpaul.com/2023/06/10/saint-of-the-day-10june-blessed-diana-dandalo-op-1201-1236-virgin/
Bl Elisabeth Hernden Bl Elizabeth Guillen St Evermund of Fontenay St Faustina of Cyzicus Bl Gerlac of Obermarchtal St Getulius of Tivoli
St Landericus of Novalese St Landericus of Paris St Maurinus of Cologne (9th Century) Abbot, Martyr St Primitivus of Tivoli St Restitutus of Rome Bl Thomas Green St Timothy of Prusa Bl Walter Pierson St Zachary of Nicomedia
Martyrs of North Africa – 17 Saints: A group of seventeen Christians Martyred together in North Africa; the only surviving details are two of their names – Aresius and Rogatius. Both the precise location in North Africa and the date are unknown.
Martyrs of the Aurelian Way – 23 Saints: A group of 23 Martyrs who died together in the persecutions of Aurelian. The only details that survive are three of their names – Basilides, Mandal and Tripos. c.270-275 on the Aurelian Way, Rome, Italy.
Thought for the Day – 9 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY Meditations for a Month
The Attainment of Humility
Humility does not spring up in our souls of its own accord. On the contrary, every child of Adam has a deep root of pride within his soul. It is only by a long and painful process that the generality of mankind can attain humility. We cannot expect to become humble unless we fulfill the necessary conditions.
We must make many acts of humility before we can attain any proficiency in the virtue. Our acts of humility must consist, not merely in protesting to Almighty God that we are vile and worthless ,in His sight and in humbling ourselves before Him by reason of our many sins. Our acts of humility must be practiced towards others by being very gentle towards those who provoke us, by bearing contradictions with patience, by accepting disappointments with patience and rebuffs without complaint. All this is a gradual process and we must not expect proficiency in humility until we have long practiced these means to attain it.
We must pray for humility. No gift of God can be won without prayer and humility least of all because it is so opposed to the natural bent of our nature and, can never be had without a special grace from God. Prayer, moreover, is an acknowledgement of our dependence upon God,and humility consists in nothing else, than a recognition of this dependence and an acquiescence in it. Pray, then, for humility! It is not much use praying for humility unless we also pray for the means that are to implant it in our souls. We must ask God, from our hearts, not to spare us if He sees that we shall not become humble without suffering. We must leave ourselves in His Hands, saying only, “O my God, make me humble at any cost! Amen.”
Quote/s of the Day – 9 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” and within the Octave of the Sacred Heart – Pentecost III
“Learn of the Heart of God in the Words of God, so that you may ardently long for eternal things.”
St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) Great Father and Doctor of the Church
“In the Sacred Heart, there is the Symbol and the express Image of the Infinite Love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love in return.”
“And since, there is in the Sacred Heart, a symbol and a sensible image of the Infinite Love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another, therefore, is it fit and proper that we should consecrate ourselves to His most Sacred Heart – an act which is nothing else than an offering and a binding of oneself to Jesus Christ, seeing that whatever honour, veneration and love is given to this Divine Heart, is really and truly given to Christ Himself.”
Encyclical Annum Sacrum (1899)
“This Devotion, [to the Sacred Heart] which we recommend to all, will be profitable to all!”
Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
“Devotion to the Most Sacred Heart is the extraordinary remedy for the extraordinary needs of our time.”
Pope Pius XI (1857-1939)
(1928)
“It is altogether impossible to enumerate the heavenly gifts which Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has poured out upon the souls of the faithful, purifying them, offering them heavenly strength, rousing them to the attainment of all virtues.”
(1956)
“His Heart is the natural Sign and Symbol of His boundless love for the human race.”
One Minute Reflection – 9 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” and within the Octave of the Sacred Heart – Saints Primus and Felicianus (Died c304) Confessors, Brother Lay Martyrs – 1 Peter 5:6-11; Luke 15:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“ Rejoice with Me because I have found My sheep which was lost.” – Luke 15:6
REFLECTION – “When the time of mercy had come (Ps 101:14) the Good Shepherd came down from His Father’s side… as had been promised from all eternity. He came in search of the one sheep which had been lost. Promised to her from all eternity, He was sent to her in time; for her sake He was born and handed over, eternally predestined for her. She is unique, drawn from both Jews and Gentiles. .., present among all peoples; she is one in her mystery, many in persons, many through the flesh according to nature, one through the Spirit according to grace – in short, one single sheep, yet a crowd without number! …
As for those whom this Shepherd acknowledges as His Own: “No-one can snatch them out of His Hands” (Jn 10:28). For true Strength cannot be forced, Wisdom cannot be deceived, Charity cannot be destroyed, That is why He speaks with assurance, saying…: “I have lost none, Father, of all those Thou hast given me” (Jn 18:9)…
He was sent as Truth for the misled, Way for the straying, Life for the dead, Wisdom for the foolish, Medicine for the sick, Ransom for captives and Food for the starving. For all those, we might say, He was sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 15:24) that they might be lost no more. He was sent like the spirit into a rigid body, so that, at His coming, its members might become warm again and quicken with a new, supernatural and divine life – this is the first resurrection (Apoc 20:5). Thus, He Himself can say: “The hour is coming and is now here, when the dead will hear the Voice of the Son of God and those who hear It will live” (Jn 5:25). And so He can say of His sheep: “They will hear My Voice and follow Me” (Jn 10:4-5).” – Blessed Isaac of Stella O.Cist. (c1100 – c1170) Cistercian Abbot, Theologian, Philosopher (Sermon 35; Second Sunday of Lent).
PRAYER – Grant O Lord, we pray, that we may ever honour the festival of thy holy Martyrs, Primus and Felicianus and Thy truth of the Church of Saints. 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).
Sweet Heart of my JESUS, Make me love Thee ever more and more! – 300 Days Indulgence Once a day, Plenary Once a month – Blessed Pope Pius IX – 26 November 1876
Our Morning Offering – 9 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Sunday Within the Octave of the Sacred Heart – Pentecost III
Prayer in Adoration of the Sacred Heart By St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) Visionary and Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God, Whom I believe to be really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, receive this most profound Act of Adoration to supply for the desire I have, to adore Thee unceasingly and in thanksgiving, for the sentiments of love which Thy Sacred Heart has for me in this Sacrament. I cannot better acknowledge them, than by offering Thee, all the Acts of Adoration, resignation, patience and love which this same Heart has made during its mortal life and which it makes still and which it shall make eternally in Heaven, in order that through it, I may love Thee, praise Thee and adore Thee worthily, as much as it is possible for me. I unite myself to this Divine Offering which Thou dost make to Thy Divine Father and I consecrate to Thee, my whole being, praying Thee, to destroy in me, all sin and not to permit that I should be separated from Thee, in time and eternally. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 9 June – Saint Maximian of Syracuse (Died 594) Bishop, Monk at St Gregory the Great’s Monastery in Rome and a close friend and collaborator with St Gregory in many instances and on many projects. Born in Sicily and died in 594 of natural causes at Syracuse, Sicily. Also known as – Massimiano.
The Roman Martyrology states: “In Syracuse, Saint Maximian, Bishop, of whom Saint Pope Gregory the Great often makes mention.”
Master of Portillo The Mass of Saint Gregory the Great (possibly the Bishop is our St Maximian)
Originally from Sicily (John the Deacon calls him Siculus), he became a Monk in Rome and after the death of Valenzione he was the second Abbot of the Monastery of St Andrew, Coelian Hill,, built before 583, by the noble Gregory (I believe it was built from St Gregory’s own ancestral home).
When St Gregory was sent by Pope Pelagius II as Papal Delegate to Constantinople to the Emperor Tiberius, Maximian joined him with some of his Monks. St Maximian seems to have prolonged St Gregory’s stay so much that the Pontiff wrote to Gregory to urge his return to Rome, as he was necessary to his Monastery and to the Apostolic See for an important matter. Upon returning, the following year, 585, after eight days of adventurous navigation in the Adriatic, the ship was shipwrecked in Crotone and Maximian, who had shown trust in God, was saved with all his companions.
When Gregory ascended to the Pontificate on 3 September 590, he chose some of his Monks, among them Maximian, to lead a monastic life in his palace which, according to John the Deacon, became “an ascetery of perfect virtue, a school of Ecclesiastical discipline, a Council of very wise government, so venerated in Rome and throughout the Church that anyone who did not have their papers in order, did not even dare appear, deeming it more appropriate to remain absent.”
In December 591, Maximian was already the Bishop of Syracuse. The Pope granted him the use of the Pallium and renewed the privileges of the ancient Bishopric; he also entrusted his representation over the entire Sicilian Church.
Vicar of the Pope and responding to his hopes, Maximian exercised a general supervision over Ecclesiastical discipline and affairs; he resolved the causes of lesser importance, referring the most difficult ones or those which he did not believe he could judge for himself, to the Pope.
Saint Gregory who, in entrusting him with these very broad powers, had minutely established the directives of Ecclesiastical politics in Sicily, addressed several letters to him and, in the end, showed himself pleased with what Maximian had done in just under three years in the vast territory of the Sicilian Island.
Even if the titles of “venerable, bishop of venerable memory” and “most holy” which often occur in the Epistolary of Saint Gregory, can obviously only be attributed a meaning of honour and respect, nevertheless the esteem which the Pope had for Maximian is evident from the expressions written in November 594 upon his death.
To the Deacon Cyprian, his rector in Sicily, the Pontiff wrote, expressing his great sorrow: “It is not Maximian who must mourn, having already flown to that eternal prize he so desired but these unhappy people of Syracuse ”. He let the Syracusans know that they “should keep in mind that another Maximian was not easy to find.”
An interesting aspect of Maximian’s activity was his collaboration with the St Gregory on the Memoirs relating to the Saints of Italy. Saint Gregory mentions it repeatedly; indeed, in 594, he would have liked to see him again, to know more distinctly, some edifying facts learned from St Maximian in the past, in order to insert them into the Dialogues. Our Saint Maximian, who was no longer able to travel to Rome, briefly and in writing, reported to Saint Gregory what he knew about Saint Nonnosus (c500-560) and some other Saints. Sadly for St Gregory, St Maximian was about to leave this earth and travel home.
St Felicianus and St Primus * (Died c304) Brothers, Confessors, Lay Martyrs. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, on Mount Caelius, the birthday of the holy Martyrs, Primus and Felician, under the Emperor Diocletian and Maximian. These glorious Martyrs lived long in the service of the Lord and endured sometimes together, sometimes separately, various cruel torments. They were finally beheaded by Promotus, Governor of Nomentum and thus happily ended their combat.” Their Lives and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2023/06/09/saints-of-the-day-9-june-saints-primus-and-felicianus-died-c304-martyrs-confessors/
St Alexander of Prusa St Arnulf of Velseca
St Baithen of Iona (c 536-c 599) Abbot, the first successor of St Columba of Iona. An Irish Monk, especially selected by St Columba, as one of the band of Missionaries who set sail for Scotland in 563. St Baithen of Iona is generally known as Baithen Mor, to distinguish him from eight other Saints of the same name — the affix mor meaning “the Great.” This holy man was closely related to the great St Columba. His Illustrious Life: https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/09/saint-of-the-day-9-june-st-baithen-of-iona-c-536-c-599/
St Comus of Scotland St Cumian of Bobbio St Cyrus Bl Diana d’Andalo OP St Diomedes of Tarsus St Julian of Mesopotamia St Luciano Verdejo Acuña St Maximian of Syracuse (Died 594) Bishop St Pelagia of Antioch St Primus * St Richard of Andria Bl Robert Salt Bl Sylvester Ventura St Valerius of Milan St Vincent of Agen
Martyrs of Arbil – 5 Saints: Five Nuns who were Martyred together in the persecutions of Tamsabur for refusing to renounce Christianity for sun-worship – Amai, Mariamne, Martha, Mary and Tecla. They were beheaded on 31 May 347 at Arbil, Assyria (in modern Kurdistan, Iraq).
Thought for the Day – 8 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY Meditations for a Month
Aids to Humility
To foster in ourselves a spirit of humility, we must not only look back but also look forward. When we appear before our Lord to be judged, what reason we shall have for shame and for dismay! How can I, who am so full of sin, venture to face Him, Who sees through every disguise and recognises the true nature of every action? How can I meet Him who has witnessed deeds of evil hidden from the eyes of men and wicked and uncharitable thoughts, indulged in secret!? When I think of that day, I must be humble.
Nothing will then be such a cause of shame to me as my pride. Nothing will so turn away the Face of my Judge from me in anger. If God abhors the proud, how can I look forward to that day without trembling? St Teresa said that when she had the privilege of seeing our Blessed Lord in a vision, the prevailing thought in her mind was, what a terrible thing it would be, if He were to be angry with her. He will be angry with me, then, unless I learn more humility! O my God, make me humble at any cost!
What will be the punishment of pride? Will it be the fire of Hell that was prepared for the devil and his angels, simply and solely because of their pride? None will endure such misery as the proud; not the gluttonous, or the impure, or the covetous, except, so far as their other vices fostered pride in them. O my God, if nothing else will make me humble, grant that the thought of the lowest Hell, reserved for the proud, may conquer in me that hateful vice of pride!
Quote/s of the Day – 8 June – The Queenship of Mary
“She is the eldest daughter of the Great King. If you enjoy her favour, she will introduce you to the Monarch of the Universe. No-one has so great an interest with Him than Mary, who was the occasion of His coming down from Heaven to become man, for the redemption of mankind.”
St John the Merciful (c 552-c 616)
“And as Queen, she possesses, by right, the whole Kingdom of her Son.”
Rupert of Deutz OSB (c 1075- c 1130) Benedictine Abbot
“The Angels rejoiced to see their Queen, the Apostles rejoiced to see their lady and both obeyed her, with loving devotion. … Therefore, when the Virgin of virgins was led forth by God and her Son, the King of kings. amid the company of exulting Angels and rejoicing Archangels, with the Heavens ringing with praise, the prophecy of the psalmist was fulfilled, in which he said to the Lord: At your right hand stands the Queen, clothed in gold of Ophir.”
St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1108-1159)
“So Mary is a Queen. And, for our consolation, we ought to remember that she is a most tender and kind Queen, eager to help us in our miseries. So much so, that the Church wants us to call her in this prayer, a Queen of Mercy. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!”
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-17
“O Queen of Angels and of Saints, my most powerful and most loving Mother, have pity on me, for I am surrounded by such great perils and need so much to advance in virtue. Although I am weak and weary, I desire ardently to imitate the shining example of thy holidness. Obtain for me, from thy Divine Son, the grace to imitate thee, as far as I am able on earth, so that one day I may share thy happiness in the Presence of God for all eternity. Amen.”
One Minute Reflection – 8 June – The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Ecclesiasticus 24:5; 14:7; 14:9-11; 24:30-31; Luke 1:26-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Hail, full of grace!”– Luke 1:28
REFLECTION – “The degeneration caused by sin had obscured the beauty of our original nobility. But when the mother of supreme Beauty is born, our nature finds its purity once more and sees itself moulded according to the perfect model, worthy of God (Gn 1:26)… We had all preferred the world below to that above. There no longer remained any hope of salvation. The state of our nature cried aloud to Heaven to come to the rescue… Then, at last, in His good pleasure, the world’s Divine Artificer determined to make a new world appear, a different world full of harmony and youth.
Now, was it not fitting, that a most pure virgin without stain, should place herself at the service of this mysterious plan, first of all?… And where was this virgin to be found if not in this woman, alone of her kind, chosen by the world’s Creator before all generations? Yes, she indeed is Mother of God, divinely named Mary, whose womb gave birth to God Incarnate and whom, He Himself, had supernaturally prepared as His temple…
In this way, then, the design of the Redeemer of our race was to bring about a birth and, as it were, a new creation to replace the one that went before. Therefore, just as in Paradise He had taken a little clay, out of the pure and spotless earth, to fashion the first Adam (Gn 2:7), so, at the moment of bringing about His own Incarnation, He made use of another earth, so to speak, namely this pure and immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings He had created. It is in her that He, Adam’s Creator, has remade us in our very substance and become a new Adam (1 Cor 15:45) that the old might be saved by the new and eternal.” – St Andrew of Crete (660-740) Bishop, Father (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God).
PRAYER – Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we who keep the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Queen, safe under her protection, may be worthy to have peace now and glory, in the future. 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).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).
All praise, honour and glory to the divine HEART of JESUS. – Indulgence 50 Days, Once a day. Raccolta 168 Pope Leo XIII, 14 June 1901.
Our Morning Offering – 8 June – The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Hail Mary, Queen of Our Hearts, Our Mother Prayer in Honour of Mary By St Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)
Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father! Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son! Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit! Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail Mary, our mistress, our wealth, our mystic rose. Queen of our hearts, our Mother, our life, our sweetness and our dearest hope! We are all Thine and all we have is thine. O Virgin, blessed above all things, may thy soul be in us, to magnify the Lord, may thy spirit be in us, to rejoice in God. Place thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon our hearts, that in thee and through thee, we may be found faithful to God. Grant, most gracious Virgin, that we may be numbered among those, whom thou art pleased to love, to teach and to guide, to favour and to protect, as thy children. Grant that with the help of thy love, we may despise all earthly consolations and cling to heavenly things, until through the Holy Spirit, thy faithful Spouse and through thee, His faithful Spouse, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, be formed within us for the glory of the Father. Amen
Saint of the Day – 8 June – Blessed John Davy O.Cart. (c1490-1535) Deacon of the Carthusian Order, Martyr, Born in York in c1490 and died by being chained to a wall in the Tower prison, London and starved, until his death on 8 June 1535. Also known as – John Davies. Additional Memorial – 4 May as one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London. Blessed John was Beatified on 20 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.
Vicente Carducho c 1626 – The Martyrdom of the Carthusians Friars
The figure of Blessed John Davy is located in the stormy landscape of 16th Century England. A Carthusian Deacon, John faced the persecutions of Henry VIII with stoic firmness, remaining faithful to the Church and the Roman Pontiff until his last breath. His story, steeped in heroism and sacrifice, makes him a shining example for all those who find themselves facing similar trials. You might think we are not facing such trials today but think again, they are mounting and growing in intensity, all over the world, by dedicated persecution.
Information on John Davy’s birth and youth is fragmentary. He is presumed to have been born in York, England, around 1490. Attracted to the contemplative life and strict discipline of the Charterhouse, he joined the Carthusian community of London in 1514. There, he distinguished himself by his piety, his zeal and his profound knowledge of tSacred Scripture and heology.
The reign of Henry VIII marked a period of profound and diabolical upheaval for the Catholic Church in England. The Sovereign, animated by political and personal aims, separated from the Holy See and proclaimed the Church of England as the sole state religion. Catholics, who did not bend to his will were persecuted ferociously. John Davy, as a Carthusian Deacon and fervent supporter of the Catholic Church, could not remain indifferent to this dramatic scenario. Together with his Brothers, he firmly opposed royal supremacy and the new doctrine imposed by the Sovereign. Their intransigence exposed them to harsh reprisals.
In 1534, Davy was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Subjected to cruel torture and a regime of extreme deprivation, he was firm to the end, never breaking under extreme torments. His will and his Faith remained fixed on Christ and His Church, Blessed John never renounced his Faith. His unwavering resistance and unswerving loyalty to the Church, further irritated his captors. On 8 June 1535, after months of torment, John Davy died in prison, exhausted by hunger and mistreatment. His death was a silent but eloquent Martyrdom, a tangible testimony of his unshakable Faith and his unshakable attachment to the his Lord and His Catholic Church.
Vicente Carducho c 1626 – The Martyrdom of the Carthusians Friars
John Davy’s reputation for sanctity quickly spread among English Catholics, who venerated him as a Martyr of the Faith. In 1888, Pope Leo XIII Beatified him, confirming his status as a heroic example for the faithful.
The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Queen of Heaven and Earth, Holy Queen: Pope Pius XII established this Feast in 1954 with a Feast Day of 31 May. However, this year, 31 May fell within the Corpus Christi Octave and, therefore, the Feast has been transferred until today, a week later. In his 1954 Encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam – To the Queen of Heaven, Pope Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because, of her intercessory power HERE: https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/31/the-queenship-of-mary-and-memorials-of-the-saints-31-may/
Blessed Armand of Zierikzee OFM (Died c1524) Friar of the Order of the Friars Minor, renowned Scriptural Scholar. St Bron of Cassel Bishop, Spiritual student of Saint Patrick. St Calliope St Clodulf of Metz Bl Engelbert of Schäftlarn St Eustadiola of Moyen-Moutier St Fortunatus of Fano Bishop
St Gildard of Rouen (c 456-c 545 Bishop of Rouen, Confessor * Twin Brother of St Medard below. The Roman Martyrology states of St Medard and his twin brother, St Gildard, today: “At Soissons, in France, the birthday of St Gildard, Bishop of Rouen, whose life and precios death are illustrated by glorios miracles – at Rouen, St Gildard, Bishop, twin brother of St Medard,who was born with his brother on the same day, Consecrated Bishops at the same time and being taken away from this life, also on the same day, they entered Heaven together!” About St Gildard: https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/08/saint-of-the-day-8-june-st-gildard-of-rouen-c-456-c-545/
Bl Giorgio Porta Bl Giselbert of Cappenberg St Heraclius of Sens Blessed John Davy O.Cart. (c1490-1535) Deacon of the Carthusian Order, Martyr Bl essedJohn Rainuzzi Bl Maddallena of the Conception
St Medard (c 456-545) Bishop and Confessor * Twin Brother of St Gildard above. About this iluustrious Saint: https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/08/saint-of-the-day-8-june-saint-medard-c-456-545-bishop/ The Roman Martyrology states of St Medard and his twin brother, St Gildard, today: “At Soissons, in France, the birthday of St Medard, Bishop of Novon, whose life and precios death are illustrated by glorious miracles – at Rouen, St Gildard, Bishop, twin brother of St Medard,who was born with his brother on the same day, Consecrated Bishops at the same time and being taken away from this life, also on the same day, they entered Heaven together!”
St Melania the Elder St Muirchu St Pacificus of Cerano Bl Peter de Amer Bl Robert of Frassinoro St Sallustian St Syra of Troyes St Victorinus of Camerino
Thought for the Day – 7 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
HUMILITY Meditations for a Month
What Humility Is
Humility is a realisation of our own nothingness before Almighty God. It is defined by St Bernard, as the virtue by which a man becomes vile in his own eyes, through a thorough knowledge of himself and by St Thomas, as a virtue by which a man, considering his own defects, keeps himself in the lowest place according to his degree. Think over these definitions and examine yourself whether you are humble, as judged by them.
It is not enough to be conscious of our own vileness or to esteem ourselves as nothing. We must acquiesce in and, be satisfied with, our own nothingness. Humility is not perfect until self is so obliterated, that we are willing to be esteemed according to our deserts. When we can honestly say that what we look to in all our thoughts, words and actions, is not our own advantage and interest but simply, the honour of God, quite independently of what will further our own profit, then! we may begin to thank God that we are in the way of humility.
If this is really the case, we shall not only esteem ourselves as vile but we shall desire to be treated accordingly. We shall not shrink from being humbled in the eyes of men but shall court humiliation, as it will be a satisfaction to us to be treated as we deserve. This is difficult for human nature but, it is possible for all, with the grace of God. It will not come at once but we may hope to reach it someday. Have I attained it? Do I desire it? Do I even accept humiliations, or do I chafe under them and resent them?
Quote/s of the Day – 7 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” and The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is celebrated on the second Friday after Trinity Sunday:
“Announce it and let it be announced to the whole world, that I set neither limit, nor measure, to My gifts of grace, for those who seek them in My Heart.”
The words of the Our Lord Jesus Christ to St Margaret Mary Alacoque
Consecration to the Sacred Heart By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) Pope from 1878-1903
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us, freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee, many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful, who have never forsaken Thee but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee, grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou, King of all those. who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism and refuse not, to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people – of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Saviour; may it now descend upon them, a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations and make the earth resound from pole to pole, with one cry: “Praise be to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honour forever.” Amen
The above prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII was included in the 1899 Encyclical Annum Sacrum issued by Leo XIII as he Consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration was influenced by two letters written to the Holy Father by Blessed Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, who stated that in visions of Jesus Christ, she had been told to request the Consecration.
Our Morning Offering – 7 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – First Friday of the Sacred Heart
Act of Love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus By Servant of God Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930)
Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It forever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease, not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee, of my love for Thee and may it say to Thee – “Yes, Lord, I am all Thine” the pledge of my allegiance to Thee, rests forever in my heart and will never cease to be there. May Thou accept, the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased, to repair all my wrong-doing – so that I may be able, to bless Thee, in time and in eternity. Amen
Saint of the Day – 7 June – Saint Gottschalk and his Companions (Died 1066) Lay Missionary Martyr, Prince of the Wends (Wends is a historical name for Slavs who inhabited present-day northeast Germany). Died by being murdered at the Altar with 29 fellow missionaries on 7 June 1066 in Lenzen, Pomerania, by pagan assassins. Patronages – of linguists, lost vocations, princes, translators. Also known as – Godescalcus, Godeschalc, Gotteschalk, Gotteschalc.
Son of Duke Udo, who still governed the Obodrites and the Vagris, in the early years of Emperor Conrad II, Gottschalk was educated in the Christian religion from birth, first in his family, then in the Monastery of St Michael in Liineburg. Upon the death of his father, murdered at the hands of a Saxon, who wanted to take revenge on the tyranny and cruelty of Udo, described by the chronicler Adam of Bremen, Godescalco, sacrificing his Faith to revenge, renounced Christianity and, at the head of his people, he joined other pagan Princes to go against the Saxons.
He fought against them for a long time, bringing destruction and death to their land, until, succumbing to remorse for so much pain and ruin he had caused, he surrendered to the Duke of Saxony, Bernard II, who, after holding him prisoner for some time, sent him to Denmark.
Having placed himself there in the service of King Cnut II the Great, he went with him to fight in England (c1030), where he behaved bravely, also being admired for his excellent qualities, so as to win all the esteem and consideration of the King , whose great-grand-daughter, Syritha, Gottschalk later married.
After the death of Cnut in 1035 and his son, Harold Hanfoot in 1040, Gottschalk returned to his native land and, raising an army with his people, undertook the conquest of the other Slavic populations who soon subjected them all to his dominion. At the same time, Gottschalk made himself recognised as their Lord also by a large section of the Saxon community.
By 1043, with this conquests, Gottschalk managed to form a vast and well-organised Kingdom . There was then, no ruler among the Slavs more powerful than himself, as the aforementioned Adam of Bremen wrote.
Returning again to his lapsed Faith, since the time of his first residence in Denmark, Gottschalk greatly favoured the evangelisation of the people, having many Churches built in his dominions and Ordaining Priests, always working tirelessly for the conversion of his still idolatrous subjects. To then preserve the fervour of the Christian Faith among them, he founded the Bishoprics of Oldenburg, Mecklenburg and Ratzenburg, established numerous Monasteries in various other Cities and sent armies of Missionaries to the most distant regions of his vast state., among whom John the Scot stood out for his apostolic zeal, who alone baptised thousands of pagans!
Gottschalk himself often travelled with these Missionaries, sometimes even acting as an interpreter during their preaching. Such ardent zeal in favour of the spread of the Christian Faith could not obtain a better reward than the crown of Martyrdom, hich Gottschalk, the pious King, in fact wore on 7 June 1066, when he fell victim to a violent pagan reaction and was killed out of hatred for the Catholic Faith in Lenzen on the Elbe, while he was attending Mass. With him the Priest Ebbo (or Eppone) suffered the same glorious fate, who was even murdered on the Altar, and many other Ecclesiastics and lay faithful.
Immediately venerated as a Saint, Gottschalk had a strong public cult in many Churches in northern Europe. His Feast is celebrated on 7 June, the commemorative day of his Martyrdom.
St Gottschalk and Companions (Died 1066) Lay Missionary Martyr St Justus of Condat St Landulf of Yariglia St Lycarion of Egypt
Venerable Matt Talbot (1856 – 1925) (born Matthew Talbot) – Layman, Ascetic, Mystic – known as the “Saint in Overalls” and “the Workers’ Saint” disciple of Eucharistic Adoration and the Blessed Virgin – Patron of Struggling and Recovering Addicts and Alcoholics and many addiction treatment programs, retreats and centres throughout the world bear his name. On 6 November 1931, Edward Joseph Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin, opened a sworn inquiry into the alleged claims of holiness of the former dock worker. He was declared Venerable in 1975. The Matt Talbot Story: https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/07/saint-of-the-day-7-june-venerable-matt-talbot-ofs/
St Meriadoc I of Vannes St Meriadoc II of Vannes St Odo of Massay St Potamiaena of Alexandria the Younger St Quirinus of Cluny Martyr. No other information has survived.
St Robert of Newminster O.Cist. (c 1100–1159) English Priest, Abbot, Apostle of the poor, Miracle-worker. He was one of the Monks who founded Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, England, another at Newminster, Northumbria and 3 other Monasteries Robert ruled and directed the Monks at Newminster for 21 years. St Robert’s Life: https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/07/saint-of-the-day-7-june-saint-robert-newminster-o-cist-c-1100-1159/
St Sergius of Cluny St Vulflagius of Abbeville
Martyrs of Africa – 7 Saints: A group of seven Christians who were Martyred together. No details about them have survived except the names – Donata, Evasius, Guirillus, Januaria, Privata, Spisinna, Victurus. The precise location in Africa and date are unknown.
Martyred in Córdoba, Spain: Habentius of Córdoba Jeremiah of Córdoba Peter of Córdoba Sabinian of Córdoba Wallabonsus of Córdoba Wistremundus of Córdoba
Thought for the Day – 6 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Little Extracts from The Adorable Heart of Jesus
On the Nature of the Devotion (Part Two)
Having made these observations, it will be easy to give a clear and precise idea of the nature of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. We may define it in this manner.: “It is an exercise of religion which has, for its object, the Adorable Heart of our Lord, inflamed with Love for men and outraged by the ingratitude of these same men and, for its motive, the honouring of this Divine Heart , by rendering It all the homage which love and gratitude can inspire and, more particularly, to offer reparation for the insults It receives in the Sacrament of love.”
Let us explain this definition and try to put it in the clearest light possible. … The Devotion of which we speak here, concerns His Heart. Certainly, this Divine Heart is not, in Itself, an object less worthy of the Devotion of the faithful, than the others we have named and, no objection can be brought to bear against the Devotion to the Heart which would not apply equally and with even more force , to the Devotion to the Wounds, the Cross, the Name of Jesus, as anybody will admit who is capable of judging in these matters.
But, that we may leave no occasion of error to simple, uninstructed persons and that , we may forestall any doubts which may arise, we will add another observation to those we have already made.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus in this Devotion must not be considered apart from those things, both spiritual and Divine, with which it is indissolubly connected. We must, on the contrary, consider it as intimately united to the Soul and to the Person of our Lord, full of life, of feeling and of knowledge.
From this follows a consequence worthy of remark which is, that all the honours which are paid to this Adorable Heart, do not terminate precisely and solely in the material Heart ; they terminate equally and indivisibly, in the Soul and the Person united to this Heart – as the honours rendered to a living man are not actually confined to the body or the soul but comprise, the two together, forming thus a whole which is honoured without any division.
From this we deduce two other consequences – one is that we may reasonably and in a very accurate sense say, of the Heart of our Lord that It Loves, Suffers, is Afflicted, Outraged etc. And the other is, that we may address to this Divine Heart, prayers, acts, affections, praises, in a word, all that can be addressed to the Person – since, in fact, it is the Person united to this Heart Who really receives them. This has been overlooked by those who have seemed to disapprove of this Devotion towards the Heart of Jesus and, who thus appeared to have regarded this Divine Heart as only an inanimate and insensible portion of the Body of Jesus Christ, setting aside the Intelligent and spiritual adjuncts which are united to It, as we have already observed.
One Minute Reflection – 6 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” –St Norbert O. Praem. (c 1080-1134) Bishop, Confessor, Founder of the Premonstratensians –The Octave Day of Corpus Christi – 1 Corinthians 23-29, John 6:56-59 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“He who eats this Bread shall live forever.” – John 6:59
REFLECTION – “Since it was the Will of God’s Only-Begotten Son that men should share in His Divinity, He assumed our nature in order that, by becoming Man. He might make men gods . Moreover, when He took our flesh. He dedicated the whole of its substance to our salvation. He offered His Body to God the Father, on the Altar of the Cross, as a sacrifice for our reconciliation. He shed His Blood for our ransom and purification, so that we might be redeemed, from our wretched state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would abide with us forever, He left His Body as food and His Blood as drink, for the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine.
O precious and wonderful banquet which brings us salvation and contains all sweetness! Could anything be of more intrinsic value? Under the old law, it was the flesh of calves and goats, which was offered but here, Christ Himself, the True God, is set before us as our food! What could be more wonderful than this? No other Sacrament has greater healing power; through it, sins are purged away, virtues are increased and the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift. It is offered in the Church for the living and the dead, so that what was instituted for the salvation of all, may be for the benefit of all. Yet, in the end, no-one can fully express the sweetness of this Sacrament, in which spiritual delight is tasted at its very source, and in which, we renew the memory, of that surpassing love for us, which Christ revealed in His Passion.
It was to impress the vastness of this Love, more firmly upon the hearts of the faithful, that our Lord instituted this Sacrament at the Last Supper. As He was on the point of leaving the world to go to the Father, after celebrating the Passover with His disciples, He left it as a perpetual memorial of His Passion. It was the fulfilment of ancient figures and the greatest of all His Miracles, while, for those who were to experience the sorrow of His departure, it was destined to be a unique and abiding consolation.” – St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Dominican Priest and Theologian, Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from On the Feast of the Body of Christ).
PRAYER – To God, Who made blessed Norbert, Thy Confessor and Bishop, a brilliant preacher of Thy Word and through him, enriched Thy Church with a new religious family, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his prayerful intercession and Thy help, we may be able to do what he has taught us by his words and deeds. 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).
O HEART of love, I place all my trust in Thee; for though I fear all things from my weakness, I hope all things from Thy mercies. – Ejaculation of Saint Margaret Mary – Indulgence 300 Days, Everytime – Raccolta 180St Pius X, 3 June 1908.
Our Morning Offering – 6 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – The Octave Day of Corpus Christi
The Golden Arrow
This prayer was revealed by Jesus Himself to a Carmelite Nun of Tours in 1843 as a Reparation for Blasphemy. “This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully” He said “and heal the wounds, inflicted by blasphemy.”
May the Most Holy, Most Sacred, Most Adorable, Most Mysterious and Unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven. on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen
Saint of the Day – 6 June – Saint Gilbert of Neufontaines O.Praem. (c1076-1152) Abbot, a French Knight and Military Leader, Crusader in the 2nd Crusade , Founder of Neufontaines Monastery and Hospital for the poor ( which he populated with Canons from the Premonstratensian Abbey of Notre-Dame de Dilo), Apostle of the sick especially of ill children, Miracle-worker. Born in c1076 and died on 6 June 1152 at Neufontaines of natural causes. Patronages – of Neuffons and of Auvergne. Also known as – Gilbert of Auvergne, Gilbert of Neuffers. Additional Memorial – 26 October (in Neufontaines and Aubeterre, France).
The Knight Gilbert belonged to the high nobility of Auvergne. Following the advice of Ornifius, the Norbertine Abbot of Dilo, he participated in the Second Crusade (1147-1149) which was preached by St Bernard at Vezelay and led by the French King, Louis VII. This Crusade ended in military disaster.
Having survived this dangerous endeavour, Gilbert decided, together with his wife, Petronilla and his daughter, Ponzia, to dedicate himself to God and enter the monastic life. He distributed a portion of his considerable wealth to the poor and also founded a Convent which his wife and daughter entered. At first, Gilbert himself lived as a Hermit. After completing his novitiate in the Norbertine Abbey of Dilo, in around 1150, he founded the Abbey of Neuffontaines and became its first Abbot. Following the example of St Norbert, he also built a hospital attached to the Abbey which soon became famous because of the many miracles which occurred there.
Penitent and filled with compassion, he cared for a great number of sick and sinful people, whom he wished to cure both spiritually and physically. Children with severe illnesses were brought to him from all over , his compassion so overwhelmed him that he was able to heal with his tears. He laid his hands upon them and gave them back to their parents cured This gave rise to the later custom of parents bringing their sick children to Neuffontaines, clothed in white, seeking the intercession of St Gilbert for cures and miracles..
Gilbert died on 6 June 1152, consumed by penance and hard toil. He had expressed his desire to be buried in the cemetery of the poor who died at the Abbey. But because of the many miracles which God worked through his intercession, his earthly remains were eventually transferred to the Abbey Church of Neuffontaines and, after being lost for a time, were later rediscovered in the Abbey in October 1645. In 1791, the Relics were transferred, for greater safety, to St Didier and, nevertheless, were lost during the tumult and desecration of the French Revolution. St. Gilbert’s Feast Day (26 October) falls on the anniversary of his translation of the 17th Century. Pope Benedict XIII confirmed the veneration of St Gilbert on 22 January and 8 March 1728.
O God, who called Thy Abbot St Gilbert away from the riches of the world that he might enter into the way of poverty, grant, we beseech Thee, that entering into the way of humility, we may strive to serve our brothers. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God forever and ever. Amen.
St Norbert O. Praem. (c 1080-1134) Bishop, Confessor, Founder of the Premonstratensian or the Norbertine Canons and Sisters, “Defender of the Eucharist” and “Apostle of the Eucharist,” Exorcist, Reformer, Preacher His amazing life: https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/06/saint-of-the-day-6-june-st-norbert/
St Agobard of Lyon St Alexander of Fiesole St Alexander of Noyon St Amantius of Noyon St Anoub of Skete St Artemius of Rome St Bazalota of Abyssinia
St Candida of Rome St Ceratius of Grenoble St Claudius of Besançon St Cocca St Colmán of Orkney Bl Daniel of Bergamo St Euphemia of Abyssinia St Eustorgius II of Milan Bl Falco of La Cava St Gilbert of Neufontaines O.Praem. (c1076-1152) Abbot St Grazia of Germagno St Gudwall (6th Century) Bishop Bl Gundisalvus of Azebeyro St Hilarion the Younger
Marytrs of Tarsus: A group of 20 Martyrs who were Martyred together during the persecutions of Diocletian. They were martyred in Tarsus (in modern Turkey).
Mercedarian Fathers of Avignon: Several Mercedarians from the Santa Maria Convent of Avignon, France who worked with plague victims in that city and died of the disease themselves. They died in Avignon, France of plague and are remembered together today for their great charity and commitment to their people.
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