Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FRIENDSHIP, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 July – ‘Love everyone with a great, charitable love but …’

One Minute Reflection – 29 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Martha, Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 11:1-2 – Luke 10:38-42 –Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part which shall not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:42

REFLECTION – “Love everyone with a great, charitable love but have no friendship except for those who communicate with you in the things of virtue. … If this communication be in the sciences, the friendship is certainly very commendable but still more so, if it be in virtues, in prudence, discretion, fortitude and justice. Should your mutual and reciprocal communications relate to charity, devotion and Christian perfection, O God, how precious will this friendship be! It will be excellent because it comes from God; excellent because it tends to God; excellent because its very bond is God; excellent because, it shall last eternally in God. Oh, how good it is to love on earth as they love in Heaven and to learn to cherish one another in this world, as we shall do eternally in the next!

I speak not here of that simple love of charity which we must have for all but of that spiritual friendship, by which two, three or more souls communicate one to another their devotion and spiritual affections and make themselves have but one spirit. (Cf. Acts 4:32) Such happy souls may justly sing: “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 132:1). … I consider all other friendships as but so many shadows in comparison with this one …. For Christians who live in the world and desire to embrace true vrtue, it is necessary to unite themselves together by a holy and sacred friendship. By this means they encourage, assist and conduct one another to good deeds … Surely no-one can deny that our Lord loved Saint John, Lazarus, Martha and Mary .with a more sweet and most special friendship, for Scripture tells us so.” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Introduction to the Devout Life III 19).

PRAYER – Graciously hear us, God our Saviour, that as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Martha, Thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching as to be enlightened by the fervour of her dedicated holiness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, OUR Cross, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – ‘ … Rejoice, you who are last in this world …’

Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Sts Nazarius and Celus, Martyrs and St Pope Victor I (Died c199)

Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in Heaven.

Matthew 5:12

“ Rejoice, ardent travellers,
at undergoing exile and maltreatment
in a foreign land in the name
of the commandment of God!
Rejoice, you who are last in this world
but lords of blessings
which exceed our understanding (cf Phil 4:7).
Yet a little while and we shall have vanquished.
And blessed shall we be;
blessed also, it shall be said,
are the places, family and countries
which have borne you 
(cf Lk 11:27-28)
.”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)

Rejoice and be happy!
Persevere to the end
and prefer to die
rather than abandon the post,
to which God has called you
!”

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

“Crosses, contempt,
sorrows and afflictions,
are the real treasures
of the lovers of Jesus Christ Crucified.

St Margaret Mary Alacoque
(1647-1690)

You must choose – is it better
that there should be thorns in your garden,
in order to have roses,
or that there should be no roses
in your garden,
in order to have no thorns
?”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, St Francis de Sales

Our Morning Offering – 23 July – Glorious St Joseph!

Our Morning Offering – 23 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – On Wednesdays, many Catholics make a special devotion to St Joseph by going to Mass on the first Wednesdays of 9 consecutive months and offering their Holy Communions in his honour and for the salvation of the dying.

Glorious St Joseph!
Prayer for the Intercession
of St Joseph in All Our Needs

By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Glorious St Joseph, Spouse of Mary,
grant us thy paternal protection,
we beseech thee, by the Heart of Jesus Christ.
O thou, whose power extends
to all our necessities
and can render possible for us,
the most impossible things.
Open thy fatherly eyes
to the needs of thy children.
In the trouble and distress
which afflicts us,
we confidently have recourse to thee.
Deign to take under thy charitable charge
this important and difficult matter,
cause of our worries.
Make its happy outcome
be for God’s glory
and for the good of His devoted servants.
Amen

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – Departing from Egypt

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – St Mary Magdalen (1st Century) Penitent – Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7, Luke 7:36-50.

She began to bathe His feet with her tears
and wiped them with the hair of her head
and kissed His feet
and anointed them with ointment.

Luke 7:38

And God saw, by their actions,
how they turned from their evil ways
and the Lord, our God,
had mercy upon His people.

Jonas 3:10

To whom shall the Lord say,
“Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven”? (Mt 5:3)
It is yours if you want it,
if your choice is set upon God.
It is yours, if you will only believe
and follow the essence of the message,
just as the Ninevites obeyed the message of the Prophet
and obtained a gracious salvation
thanks to their sincere repentance,
instead of the destruction
which threatened them
!”

St Clement of Alexandria (c150-c215)

O Heavenly Father, have compassion for my cry
as Thou did for the prodigal son,
for I, too, am throwing myself at Thy feet
and crying aloud as he cried:
“Father, I have sinned!”
Do not reject me,
Thy unworthy child, O my Saviour
but cause Thy Angels
to rejoice too, on my behalf,
O God of goodness Thou,
Who desires that all should be saved.

St Romanos Melodios (c490-c 556)
Monk, Composer of hymns, Poet

Let us then depart, let us depart from Egypt,
let us approach Our Lord,
let us make provision of good works;
let the feet of our affections be bare,
let us clothe ourselves with innocence,
let us not be satisfied with crying for mercy,
let us go forth from Egypt, let us delay no longer.
The hour is come to arise from sleep,
since we know that He receives sinners;
the Angels await our repentance,
the Saints pray for it
!

St Francis de Sales 91567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, St Francis de Sales, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – Humility , Humility, Humilty!

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – The Feast of The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary

To arrive at the knowledge of the Truth,
there are many paths – the first is humility,
the second is humility
and the third is humility
!”

Humility is a very strange entity.
The moment we think we have it,
we have already lost it
!”

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

True humility consists in persuading
and convincing oneself
that without God,
we are insignificant and despicable
and, in acceptance,
to be treated as such!

St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

In order to overcome the power of the devil,
the soul needs prayer
and will not be able to understand his deceptions,
without mortification and humility.

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church

The most holy Virgin, Our Lady,
gave us an outstanding example of this
when she spoke these words:
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord,
let it be done to me according to your word”
(Lk 1:38). When she said she was
the handmaid of the Lord,
she was performing the greatest act of humility
it is possible to do and,
all the more so, in that she was contradicting
the praise given her by the angel –
that she would be mother of God,
that the child to be born from her womb
would be called Son of the Most High,
a greater dignity than any we might imagine –
I say, she opposed her lowliness
and unworthiness to all these praises
and greatness, by saying
that she was the handmaid of the Lord.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

A FEW MORE FROM ST FRANCIS de SALES:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/17/quote-s-of-the-day-17-july-humility/

Make Me Like Thineself, Mary My Mother
By St Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)

My powerful Queen,
thou art all mine,
through thy mercy
and I am all thine.
Take away from me,
all which may displease God
and cultivate in me,
all which is pleasing to Him.
May the light of thy faith,
dispel the darkness of my mind,
thy deep humility,
take the place of my pride,
thy continual sight of God,
fill my memory, with His Presence.
May the love of thine heart
inflame the lukewarmness, of mine.
May thy virtues, take the place
of my sins.
May thy merits,
be my enrichment
and reconcile all which is
wanting in me, before God.
My beloved Mother,
grant that I may have,
no other spirit but thine,
to know Jesus Christ
and His Divine Will
and to praise and glorify the Lord,
that I may love God,
with burning love like thine.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", ACT of LOVE, ACT of PERFECT CONTRITION, CATECHESIS, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, St Francis de Sales, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 11 July – O My God, I Thank Thee An Act of Abandonment to the Divine Will

Our Morning Offering – 11 July

O My God, I Thank Thee
An Act of Abandonment
to the Divine Will
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Doctor Caritatis

O my God, I thank Thee
and I praise Thee
for accomplishing Thy Holy and all-lovable Will
without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!
It is the cross of Thy choice,
the cross of Thy Love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish it had not come,
since Thou hast willed it.
I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything which comes from Thy Hand
and I shall strive to carry it
without letting it drag,
with all the respect
and all the affection
which Thy works deserve.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CHURCH, St PAUL!, St PETER!

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June – Seek God above all things!

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June – Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – Acts 12:1-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16

Meditate well on this – Seek God above all things!
It is right for you to seek God,
before and above, everything else
because the Majesty of God
wishes you to receive what you ask for.
This will also make you more ready
to serve God and will enable you
to love Him more perfectly.

St Paschal Baylon (1540-1592)

It is granted to few,
to recognise the True Church,
amidst the darkness,
of so many schisms and heresies
and, to fewer still,
so to love the Truth
which they have seen,
as to fly to it’s embrace
!”

St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Doctor of the Church

The Catholic religion was the religion of your forefathers
and the only one Jesus Christ founded; –
the one which He promised would endure
till the end of time.
It is in the Catholic religion alone
that you can save your soul.”

St John Francis Régis (1597-1640)

He who most loves,
will be most loved.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in CATECHESIS, EUCHARISTIC, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, St Francis de Sales, The COMMUNION of SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – 20 June – Visiting Jesus

Quote/s of the Day – 20 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Within the Corpus Christi Octave

Nowhere do we find our Saviour
more tender or more loving,
than here [in Adoration]
where He, so to speak,
annihilates Himself and reduces Himself
to Food, in order to penetrate our souls
and to unite Himself
to the hearts of His friends.

The Holy Eucharist
is the perfect Communion of Saints,
for it is the food common to Angels
and Sainted souls in Paradise
and ourselves – it is the true Bread
of which all Christians participate.
The forgiveness of sins,
the Author of forgiveness being there, is confirmed;
the seed of our resurrection sown,
life everlasting bestowed. …
This very belief in the Most Holy Sacrament,
which, in truth, reality and substance,
contains the true and natural
Body of Our Lord,
is actually the abridgment of our Faith,
according to that of the Psalmist:
“He had made a memory of His wonderful works.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

When I go to the Chapel,
I place myself before the good God and I say to Him:
‘Lord, I am here.
Tell me what Thou would have me do.’
If He gives me some task I am content and I thank Him.
If He gives me nothing, I still thank Him
Since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that,
and then, I tell God everything that is in my heart.
I tell hIm about my pains and my joys and then I listen.
… God always speaks to you
when you approach Him plainly and simply.

St Catherine Labouré (1806-1876)
The Visionary of the Miraculous Medal

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on STRENGTH, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 19 June – Corpus Christi

Quote/s of the Day – 19 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Corpus Christi

He who eats My Flesh
and drinks My Blood,
abides in Me and I in him.

John 6:57

Receive the Body and Blood of Christ
very frequently. The sight of a Christian’s lips
red with the Blood of Christ terrifies the enemy.
He immediately recognises the sign of his own ruin.
He cannot stand the Instrument of Divine Victory,
by which he was taken captive and cast down.

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church

Everything in us which is strong, steadfast,
firm, happy and joyful to carry out God’s commands,
bear with misfortune, act obediently, stand up for justice –
all these things come from this Bread’s strength,
this Wine’s gladness.
Happy are they whose deeds are strong and joyful!
And since no-one can do it of themselves,
happy are they who have an eager desire
to cleave to what is just and right
and to be strengthened in everything
and rejoice through Him
… ”

Baldwin of Canterbury (c1125-1190)
Cistercian Abbot of Forde Monastery and
Archbishop of Canterbury

The Saviour has instituted
the most glorious Sacrament
of the Eucharist,
which truly contains His Body and His Blood,
so that, whoever eats it will live forever.
Therefore, those who receive it frequently,
with devotion, strengthen their spiritual life
and well-being, to such an extent,
that it is almost impossible for them
to be poisoned by any kind of evil attachment
.”

(Introduction to the Devout Life, Part II, Chapter 20)

I often speak with my Teacher, Jesus,
in the Blessed Sacrament
because I learn from Him.
Jesus is the Teacher of the science of holiness.
I go to Him because I would like to learn,
from Him, how to become a Saint.
Of what use to me is all knowledge
and education, if I do not become holy?

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CATECHESIS, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Francis de Sales, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 9 June – All are LOVE!

Quote/s of the Day – 9 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost Monday

These Gifts are not only inseparable from charity
but they are, the principal virtues,
properties and qualities of charity.

WISDOM
is nothing else, than the love
which relishes, tastes and experiences,
how sweet and gentle God is.

UNDERSTANDING
is nothing else, than love attentive to consider
and penetrate the beauty of the truths of faith.

KNOWLEDGE
is simply the same love
keeping us attentive to know ourselves
and creatures, to obtain a more perfect knowledge
of the service we owe to God.

COUNSEL
is also love, as it renders us careful,
attentive and skilled
in choosing the means proper
to serve God in a holy manner.

FORTITUDE
is love which encourages and animates the heart,
so as to carry out, that which Counsel
has determined must be done.

PIETY
is the love which sweetens labour
and makes us, with good heart,
gratitude and filial affection,
do works that please God our Father.

FEAR
is simply love as it causes us to fly
and shun what is displeasing to God’s majesty.

(Treatise on the Love of God, Book 11, Chapter 15)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in CATECHESIS, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on the POOR, SAINT of the DAY, St Francis de Sales

One Minute Reflection – 20 May – ‘ … Always deprive yourself, therefore, of some part of your means … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 20 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Bernadine of Siena OFM (1380-1444) “Apostle of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” Confessor – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11 – Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

… Shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29

REFLECTION – “The possessions which we have, are not our own:, God has given them to us to cultivate and He wishes us to render them fruitful and profitable … Always deprive yourself, therefore, of some part of your means, giving them to the poor with a willing heart … It is true that God will return it to you, not only in the next world but also in this, for there is nothing which makes a person prosper, in temporal matters, as much as almsgiving. But until such time as God shall repay it, you will always be impoverished to that extent. Oh! how holy and rich is the impoverishment which is caused by almsgiving.

Love the poor and poverty, for by this love you will become truly poor, since, as Scripture says: “We become like the things that we love” (cf Hos 9:10). Love makes those who love, equal to one another: “Who is weak and I am not weak?” says St Paul (2 Cor 11:29). He might have said: “Who is poor, with whom I am not poor?” For love made him become, such as those whom he loved. If, then, you love the poor, you will be truly participating in their poverty and poor like them. Now, if you love the poor, be often among them; be pleased to see them in your house and to visit them in theirs; associate willingly with them; be glad that they are near you in the Churches, in the streets and elsewhere. Be poor in speech with them, speaking to them as their equal but be rich in deed, giving them of your goods, as one who possesses more abundantly.

Will you do even more? … Become a servant of the poor; go to serve them … with your own hands … and at your own expense. This service has more glory in it than a throne!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Introduction to the devout life, Part three Ch 15).

PRAYER – O Lord Jesus, Who bestowed on blessed Bernardine, T Thy Confessor, an unusual love for Thine Holy Name, we beseech Thee, by his merits and intercession, graciously pour upon us the spirit of Thy love. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HOSPITALITY, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on WISDOM, St Francis de Sales, St JOSEPH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 May –  ‘ … There is no doubt at all, that Saint Joseph was braver than David and wiser that Solomon …’

One Minute Reflection – 14 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” –The Octave Day of St Joseph – Feast of St Boniface (Died c307), Martyr – Genesis 49:22-26 – Luke 3:21-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And Jesus, Himself, was beginning about the age of thirty years, being – (as it was supposed) – the son of Joseph … ” – Luke 3:23

REFLECTION – “How faithful in humility was the great Saint we are celebrating! That cannot be said in all its perfection for, in spite of what he was, in what poverty and lowliness he lived all the days of his life, a poverty and lowliness beneath which he kept hidden and concealed his great virtues and dignity!… Truly, I have no doubt at all, that the angels came, beside themselves with admiration, rank upon rank, to behold and wonder at his humility, while he sheltered that dearest Child, in the poor workshop where he worked at his employment, so as to feed the little Boy and the mother entrusted to him.

There is no doubt at all, that Saint Joseph was braver than David and wiser that Solomon, [who were his ancestors]. Nevertheless, seeing him reduced to the exercise of carpentry, who could have discerned this, unless they were enlightened by a heavenly light, so hidden did he keep the remarkable gifts, with which God had favoured him?

And what wisdom did he not have? For God gave him, His most glorious Son to care for… the universal Prince of heaven and earth… Nevertheless, you can see how low and humbled he was brought, more than can be said or imagined… he went to his own country and town of Bethlehem and none but he, was turned away from all those inns…

Notice how the Angel turns him about with both hands. He tells him he has to go to Egypt and he goes, he orders him to return and he returns. God wants him to be always poor… and he submits to it with love and not only for a while, for he was poor his whole life long.”- St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church – Conferences, no. 19) .

PRAYER – God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph, to be the husband of Thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant now that he is in Heaven with Thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be aided by the succour of his prayers, to Thee on our behalf. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, MAUNDY THURSDAY, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on ENEMIES, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, St Francis de Sales, St PAUL!, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 17 April – Maundy Thursday

Quote/s of the Day – 17 April – Maundy Thursday

Be imitators of God, as very dear children
and walk in love, as Christ also loved us
and delivered Himself up for us 
…”

St Paul … Ephesians 5:1-2

But I say to you,
Love your enemies 
…”

Matthew 5:44

But the wise took oil
in their vessels

Matthew 25:4

The wise ones’ lamps were burning,
from the oil inside them,
from the assurance of their consciences,
from their inner boast,
from their deepest charity.

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

“Father, forgive them.
With this prayer, He wanted to make us understand
the love He bore us, undiminished
by any suffering and to teach us how
our heart should be toward our neighbour.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

“He loves you as though He had
no-one else to love but you alone.
You, too, should love Him alone
and all others for His Sake.
Of Him you may say and, indeed, you should say:
My Beloved to me and I to Him (Cant, 2:16).
My God has given Himself all to me
and I give myself all to Him;
He has chosen me for His beloved
and I choose Him, above all others,
for my only Love.

How to Pray at All Times
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, In the PRESENCE of GOD, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, St PETER!

Quote/s of the Day – 15 April – Weep!

Quote/s of the Day – 15 April – Tuesday of Holy Week – Jeremias 11:18-20 – Mark 14:32-72; 15, 1-46– – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Before the cock crows twice,
thou shalt thrice deny Me.
And he began to weep
…”

Mark 14:72

The first time Peter denied,
he did not weep because the Lord
had not looked at him.
He denied a second time and did not weep
because the Lord still did not look at him.
He denied a third time;
Jesus looked at him
and he wept very bitterly (Lk 22:62).
… Teach us what use your tears were to you.
But you taught it without delay for,
having fallen before you wept,
your tears caused you to be chosen to guide others,
you who, to begin with, did not know
how to guide yourself
!”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor

I am very certain,
it was our Lord’s Holy Look
which pierced his heart
and opened his eyes, to make him
recognise his sin (Lk 22:61)…
From that time on, he never stopped weeping,
above all when he heard the cock crow at night
and in the morning…
In this way, from being a great sinner,
he became a great Saint
!

A person who is conscious of his misery,
can certainly have great confidence in God.
In fact, he cannot have true confidence in Him,
without this consciousness of his misery.
This knowledge and acknowledgement
of our misery, leads us to the presence of God.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", ACT of LOVE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, OUR Cross, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 12 April – Imprint the Cross of faith …

Quote/s of the Day – 12 April – Saturday in Passion Week – Jeremias18:18-23, John 12:10-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

He who loves his life, loses it
and he who hates his life
in this world,
keeps it unto life everlasting.
If anyone serves Me,
let him follow Me
and where I am,
there also shall My servant be
.”

John 12:25-26

For he who will save his life, will lose it
and he who will lose his life
for My sake, will find it.
 ”

Matthew 16:25

Let us detach ourselves in spirit
from all that we see
and cling to that which we believe.
This is the Cross
which we must imprint
on all our daily actions and behaviour.

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church

O My God, I Thank Thee
An Act of Abandonment
to the Divine Will
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

O my God, I thank Thee
and I praise Thee
for accomplishing Thy Holy and all-lovable Will
without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!
It is the cross of Thy choice,
the cross of Thy Love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish it had not come,
since Thou hast willed it.
I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything which comes from Thy Hand
and I shall strive to carry it
without letting it drag,
with all the respect
and all the affection
which Thy works deserve.
Amen

My soul, live henceforward
amid the scourges and the thorns
of thy Saviour and there,
as a nightingale in its bush, sing sweetly:
Live Jesus, Who didst die
that my soul might live!
Ah, Eternal Father!
What can the world return Thee
for the gift Thou hast made it of Thy only Son?
Alas! to redeem a thing so vile as I,
the Saviour delivered Himself to death
and, unhappy me!
I hesitate to surrender my nothingness to Him,
Who has given me everything!
”“

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, St Francis de Sales, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day – 9 April – Christ, the Word, the Voice, the Message …

Quote/s of the Day – 9 April – Wednesday in Passion Week – Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-19, 25; John 10:22-38 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

My sheep hear My Voice;
I know them and they follow Me.

John 10:27

And as for that in the good ground
they are those who, hearing the Word,
hold it fast in an honest and good heart
and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luke 8:15

“… Blessed are they who hear
the Word of God and keep it.

Luke 11:28

For just as from the Heavens,
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there,
until they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to him who sows
and bread to him who eats.

Isaias 55:11

So the Word that He shall send through His Christ,
Who is Himself, the Word and the Message,
shall return to Him with great power.
For when He shall come and bring it,
He shall come down like rain and snow
and through Him all that is sown shall spring up
and bear righteous fruit …
And this is the Voice through which
the dead shall live.

St Aphraates “the Sage” (Died c 345)
Abbot, Father of the Church

What a happy day they spent!
What a blessed night!
Who can say what it was they heard
from the Lord’s mouth?
Let us, too, build a dwelling in our hearts,
construct a house
where Christ can come
to teach and converse with us.

St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Always (read and) listen to it (the Scriptures)
with attention and reverence;
make good use of it;
do not let it fall to earth
but take it into your heart
like a precious balm.
Do all this after the example
of the most holy Virgin,
for she carefully kept in her heart
all the words spoken in praise of her Child.
Remember that our Lord gathers up
the words we speak to Him in prayer,
in measure with the way
we gather up those He speaks to us
by His preaching.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

(Introduction to the Devout Life
Part 2 Chapter 17
)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TIME, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Francis de Sales

Quote/s of the Day – 6 April – How to escape death …

Quote/s of the Day – 6 April – Passion Sunday – Hebrews 9:11-15, John 8:46-59 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Amen, amen, I say to you,
if anyone keep My word,
he will never see death
.”

John 8:51

Your purity of life, your devotion,
deserve and call for a reward
because you are acceptable
and pleasing to God.
Your purity of life must be made purer still,
by frequent buffetings,
until you attain perfect sincerity of heart.
If, from time to time, you feel the sword
falling upon you with double or treble force,
this also should be seen as sheer joy
and the mark of love!

St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

We must live a dying life
and we must die a living death
in the life of our Lord
.”
(The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XV, 6 )

Unhappy is death,
without the love of Christ;
unhappy is love,
without the Death of Christ
!”

(Treatise on the Love of God,
Book 12, Chapter 13)

We are dying,
little by little;
so, we are to make
our imperfections die
with us, day by day. 

(Letters to Persons in the World I:5)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Consider the shortness of time,
the length of eternity
and reflect, how everything here below
comes to an end and passes by.
Of what use is it then, to lean upon that
which cannot give support
?”

St Gerard Majella (1726-1755)

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Hail, Sweet Jesus!

Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Passion Sunday

Hail, Sweet Jesus!
Prayer to Christ
in His Passion and Death
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Hail, sweet Jesus!
Praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O Christ,
Who, of Thou own accord, embraced death,
and recommending Thyself to Thy heavenly Father,
bowing down Thy venerable Head,
did yield up Thy Spirit.
Truly thus giving up Thy life for Thy sheep,
Thou hast shown Thyself, to be the Good Shepherd.
Thou died, O Only-begotten Son of God.
Thou died, O my beloved Saviour,
that I might live forever.
O how great hope,
how great confidence have
I reposed in Thy Death and Thy Blood!
I glorify and praise Thy Holy Name,
acknowledging my infinite obligations to Thee.
O good Jesus,
by Thy bitter Death and Passion,
give me grace and pardon.
Give unto the faithful departed,
rest and life everlasting.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 April – Awaken and Arise!

Quote/s of the Day – 3 April –Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent – Ferial Day – 4 Kings 4:25-38 – Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Young man,
I say to thee,
arise!

Luke 7:14

I shall arise and shall go to my Father

Luke 15:18

Thy sins are forgiven thee …
Arise and walk.

Luke 5:23

Awake, O Sleeper and Rise from the Dead

Ephesians 5:14

As the prodigal son,
I will return to my Father’s house
and I will be welcomed back home.
I shall do the same, as he did –
will the Father not grant my prayer too?
O forgiving Father, here I am at Thy door
and I knock, open to me, let me enter,
so that I may not ruin myself, go away and die!
Thou made me Thy heir
and I neglected my inheritance
and squandered my goods –
from now on, may I be as a mercenary
and as a servant to Thee.

St Jacob of Sarug (c451-521)
Bishop, Theologian, Poet, Writer, Father

The medicine of God,
is Jesus Christ,
Crucified and Risen,
the measure of all things.

St John Leonardi (1541-1609)
Confessor, Priest, Founder

What better penance
can a heart do
which commits faults,
than to submit
to a continual abnegation
of self-will?

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in "Follow Me", CATHOLIC Quotes, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIMPLICITY, St PETER!, The SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST

Quote/s of the Day – 2 April – St Francis of Paola and on washing ourselves … Isaias 1:16

Quote/s of the Day – 2 April – Feastday of St Francis of Paola OM (1416-1507) –Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent – Isaias 1:16-19 – John 9:1-38 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Wash yourselves, be clean,
take away the evil of your deeds
from My Eyes
…”

Isaias 1:16

Little children follow and obey their father.
They love their mother.
They know nothing of covetousness,
ill-will, bad temper, arrogance and lying.
This state of mind opens the road to Heaven.
To imitate our Lord’s own humility,
we must return to the simplicity
of God’s little ones.

St Hilary (315-368)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Prayer, appeases the anger of God;
He pardons the sinner
when he prays with humility.

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)

We must be very sorry for faults
with a repentance which is strong,
constant, tranquil
but not troubled, unquiet or fainthearted.

(Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 7).

Christ was more concerned
with St. Peter’s repentance and remorse,
than with his sin.

(The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 8)

​St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

St Francis of Paola
Quotes:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-april-st-francis-of-paola-2/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Of a Holy DEATH & AGAINST A SUDDEN DEATH, of the DYING, FINAL PERSEVERANCE, DEATH of CHILDREN, DEATH of PARENTS, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on DEATH, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Francis de Sales, St JOSEPH

Quote/s of the Day – 31 March – St Joseph!

Quote/s of the Day – 31 March – Goodbye to “The Month of Saint Joseph”

The Almighty has concentrated in St Joseph,
as in a sun of unrivalled lustre,
the combined light and splendour
of all the other Saints.

St Gregory Nanzianzen (330-390)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Both Mary and Joseph had made a vow
to remain virgins all the days of their lives
and God, wished them to be united
in the bonds of marriage,
not because they repented of the vow already made
but, to be confirmed in it and,
to encourage each other to continue
in this holy relation.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctorof Charity of the Church

Since we all must die,
we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph
that he may obtain for us a happy death.

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Go to Joseph!
Have recourse with special confidence to St Joseph,
for his protection is most powerful,
as he is the Patron of the Universal Church.

Pope Pius IX (1792-1878)

Posted in CHRIST the KING, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The ANNUNCIATION, The INCARNATION

Quote/s of the Day – 25 March – The Annunciation

Quote/s of the Day – 25 March – The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Isaias 7:10-15 – Luke 1:26-38 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

By a woman,
came the flood of our ills
and by a woman too,
our blessings,
have their spring.

St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c213-c270)
“the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor

“And some seed fell on good ground
Luke 8:8

Rejoice, O Mary, House of the Lord,
earth trodden by the Footsteps of God…
Rejoice, O Paradise
more happy than the Garden of Eden,
where every virtue has been seeded
and where the Tree of Life has grown.

St Theodore the Studite (750-826)
Father, Abbot, Theologian, Writer

Through a woman, [Eve]
a curse fell upon the earth;
through a woman, [Mary]
there returned to the earth,
a blessing
!”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church

May the Blessed Virgin,
unique in her merits,
stand in the presence of her Creator
interceding always in our favour.
She will be radiant in the fullness of glory,
she who brought forth,
from her virginal womb,
the King of glory.

St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) 

She saw herself raised to the highest dignity
that ever was or will be, for although
it should please God to create anew many worlds,
He could never make a pure creature
be greater than the Mother of God.
Our Lady humbled herself
and acknowledged herself unworthy
of being raised to the high dignity of Mother of God, therefore, she was made to be His Mother,
for she had no sooner uttered the protestation
of her littleness, than, having abandoned
herself to Him, by an act of incomparable charity,
she became the Mother of the Most High,
Who is the Saviour of our souls
!”

(Sermon on 25 March 1621
at a religious Profession).

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Posted in Lady POVERTY, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 March – ‘ … Oh! how holy and rich is the impoverishment which is caused by almsgiving! …’

One Minute Reflection – 21 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” – Feast of the Holy Shroud – St Benedict OSB (c 480-547) Abbot, Patron of Europe and Founder of Western Monasticism.–Friday of the Second Week in Lent – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6 – Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

… Shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29

REFLECTION – “The possessions which we have, are not our own –God has given them to us to cultivate and He wishes us to render them fruitful and profitable … Always deprive yourself, therefore, of some part of your means, giving them to the poor with a willing heart … It is true that God will return it to you, not only in the next world but also in this, for there is nothing which makes a person prosper, in temporal matters, so much, as almsgiving. But until such time as God shall repay it, you will always be impoverished to that extent. Oh! how holy and rich is the impoverishment which is caused by almsgiving!

Love the poor and poverty, for by this love you will become truly poor, since, as Scripture says: “We become like the things which we love” (cf Hos 9:10). Love makes those who love, equal to one another: “Who is weak and I am not weak?” says St Paul (2 Cor 11:29). He might have said: “Who is poor, with whom I am not poor?” For love made him become, such as those whom he loved. If, then, you love the poor, you will be truly participating in their poverty and poor like them. Now, if you love the poor, be often among them; be pleased to see them in your house and to visit them in theirs; associate willingly with them; be glad that they are near you in the Churches, in the streets and elsewhere. Be poor in speech with them, speaking to them as their equal but be rich in deed, giving them of your goods, as one who possesses more abundantly.

Will you do even more? … Become a servant of the poor; go to serve them … with your own hands … and at your own expense. This service has more glory in it than a throne!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Introduction to the devout life, Part three Ch 15).

PRAYER – May the intercession of the blessed Abbot Benedict, commend us to Thee, O Lord, so that through his merits we may obtain that which we cannot accomplish by our own. T hrough Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Lady POVERTY, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on WISDOM, St JOSEPH, The HOLY FAMILY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 March – ‘… God gave him His most glorious Son to care for …’

One Minute Reflection – 19 March – “The Month and the Feastday of Saint Joseph” – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6 – Matthew 1:18-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep …” – Matthew 1:20

REFLECTION – “How faithful in humility was the great Saint we are celebrating! That cannot be said in all its perfection for, in spite of what he was, in what poverty and lowliness he lived, all the days of his life – a poverty and lowliness beneath which. he kept hidden and concealed, his great virtues and dignity! … Truly, I am free of doubt that the Angels came, beside themselves with admiration, rank upon rank, to behold and wonder at his humility, while he sheltered that dearest Child in the poor workshop where he worked at his employment, so as to feed the little Boy and the mother entrusted to him.

There is no doubt at all that St Joseph was braver than David and wiser that Solomon [who were his ancestors]. Nevertheless, seeing him reduced to the exercise of carpentry, who could have discerned this, unless they were enlightened by a heavenly light, so hidden did he keep the remarkable gifts with which God had favoured him? And what wisdom did he not have? For God gave him his most glorious Son to care for … the universal Prince of Heaven and earth … Nevertheless, you can see how low and humbled he was brought, more than can be said or imagined … he went to his own Country and Town of Bethlehem and none but he was turned away from all those inns … Notice how the Angel turns him about with both hands. He tells him, he has to go to Egypt and he goes; he orders him to return and he returns. God wants him to be always poor … and he submits to it with love and, not only for a while, for he was poor his whole life long!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Conferences No 20)

PRAYER – May the merits of Thy most holy Mother’s Spouse help us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that through his intercession we may receive what we cannot obtain by our own efforts. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS TO St Joseph, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 19 March – Glorious St Joseph!

Our Morning Offering – 19 March – “The Month and the Feastday of Saint Joseph”

Glorious St Joseph!
Prayer for the Intercession
of St Joseph in All Our Needs

By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Glorious St Joseph, Spouse of Mary,
grant us thy paternal protection,
we beseech thee, by the Heart of Jesus Christ.
O thou, whose power extends
to all our necessities
and can render possible for us,
the most impossible things.
Open thy fatherly eyes
to the needs of thy children.
In the trouble and distress
which afflicts us,
we confidently have recourse to thee.
Deign to take under thy charitable charge
this important and difficult matter,
cause of our worries.
Make its happy outcome
be for God’s glory
and for the good of His devoted servants.
Amen

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, St Francis de Sales, The TRANSFIGURATION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – ‘ … May we be moulded to His Image …’

Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – The Second Sunday of Lent

This is My beloved Son;
in Whom I Am well pleased,
listen to Him.

Matthew 17:5

Let us listen to the holy Voice of God
which summons us from on high,
from the holy mountain top.
There, we must hasten – I make bold to say –
like Jesus, Who is our leader
and has gone before us into Heaven.
There, with Him, may the eyes of our mind
shine with His Light and the features of our soul
be made new; may we be transfigured with Him
and moulded to His image,
ever becoming divine,
being transformed in an ever greater degree of glory.

St Anastasius Sinaita (Died 6th Century)
Priest and Abbot

At His Transfiguration
Christ showed His disciples,
the splendour of His Beauty,
to which He will shape and colour,
those who are His :
‘He will reform our lowness
configured to the Body of His Glory.

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor of the Church

Aspire to God with short
but frequent outpourings of the heart,
admire His bounty,
invoke His aid,
cast yourself in spirit at the foot of His Cross,
adore His goodness,
treat with Him of your salvation,
give Him your whole soul –
a thousand times in the day.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 14 March – “Do you wish to be made whole?”

Quote/s of the Day – 14 March – Ember Friday, First Week of Lent – Ezekiel 18:20-28, John 5:1-15 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Do you wish to be made whole?

John 5:6

O Heavenly Father, have compassion for my cry
as Thou did for the prodigal son,
for I, too, am throwing myself at Thy feet
and crying aloud as he cried:
“Father, I have sinned!”
Do not reject me,
Thy unworthy child, O my Saviour
but cause Thy Angels
to rejoice too, on my behalf,
O God of goodness Thou,
Who desires that all should be saved
.”

St Romanos Melodios (c490-c 556)
Monk, Composer of hymns, Poet

When it is dark,
we do not see how dusty and dirty
our house is.
Only when the place
is flooded with sunlight,
do we realise its awful condition.
So, we need the light of God’s grace
to show us the real state of our soul
and to induce us
to clean up our hearts
!”

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Let us then depart, let us depart from Egypt,
let us approach Our Lord,
let us make provision of good works;
let the feet of our affections be bare,
let us clothe ourselves with innocence,
let us not be satisfied with crying for mercy,
let us go forth from Egypt, let us delay no longer.
The hour is come to arise from sleep,
since we know that He receives sinners;
the Angels await our repentance,
the Saints pray for it
!

St Francis de Sales 91567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATECHESIS, GOD ALONE!, MODESTY, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Quote/s of the Day – 6 March – Lord, I am not worthy …

Quote/s of the Day – 6 March – Ash Thursday – Isaias 38:1-6 – Matthew 8:5-13

And the centurion, making answer, said:
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst
enter under my roof but only say the word
and my servant shall be healed.

Matthew 8:8

Whoever exalts himself
will be humbled
and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12

Those who refuse to be humble cannot be saved.
They cannot say with the prophet:
See, God comes to my aid;
the Lord is the helper of my soul.
But anyone who makes himself humble,
like a little child,
is greater in the Kingdom of Heaven.

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

Humility is the mother of many virtues
because, from it are born:
obedience, fear, reverence, patience,
modesty, meekness and peace.
He who is humble easily obeys everyone,
fears to offend anyone,
is at peace with everyone,
is kind to all!

St Thomas of Villanova OSA (1488-1555)

Humility is not just about self-mistrust
but about the entrusting of ourselves to God.
Distrusting ourselves and our own strength
produces trust in God
and from that trust,
generosity of soul is born.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, St Francis de Sales, The LAST THINGS

Quote/s of the Day – 5 March – Prayer, Fasting and Mercy

Quote/s of the Day – 5 March – Ash Wednesday

Prayer, Fasting and Mercy

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

Fasting is the soul of prayer,
mercy is the lifeblood of fasting.
Let no-one try to separate them;
they cannot be separated.
If you have only one of them,
or not all together, you have nothing.
So if you pray, fast;
if you fast, show mercy;
if you want your petition to be heard,
hear the petition of others.
If you do not close your ear to others
you open God’s ear to yourself!

St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450)
Bishop of Ravenna
“Doctor of Homilies”
Father and Doctor of the Church

Fasting is the death of sin,
the destruction of our crimes
and the remedy of our salvation.

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor of the Church

For the devil may tempt the good
but he cannot find rest in them;
for he is shaken violently
and upset and driven out –
now by their prayers,
now by their tears of repentance
and now. by their almsgiving
and similar good works.

St Bruno (c1030-1101)

If a man finds it very difficult to forgive injuries,
let him look at a Crucifix
and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him
and not only forgave His enemies
but, even prayed His Heavenly Father,
to forgive them too.
Let him remember,
that when he says the Pater Noster, everyday,
instead of asking pardon for his sins,
he is calling down VENGEANCE UPON HIMSELF!

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

The sacred gift of prayer
is already in the Right Hand of the Saviour;
as soon as ever you shall have emptied yourself of self,
He will pour it into your heart!

(Letters to Persons in Religion III 19)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

You must be reconciled to your enemies,
speak to them, as if they had never done you
anything but good, all your life,
keeping nothing in your heart but the charity,
which the good Christian should have, for everyone,
so that we may all appear with confidence,
before the tribunal of God.

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the POOR, St Francis de Sales, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 2 March – ‘… God’s greatness, is His Mercy.’

Quote/s of the Day – 2 March – Quinquagesima Sunday

For man’s lowliness,
is his gratitude
and, God’s greatness,
is His Mercy.

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

Thou art the Good Shepherd;
seek me, Thy lamb
and neglect me not,
who has gone astray.
[John 10:11-14]

St Andrew of Crete (660-740)
Bishop, Father of the Church

Be generous to the poor orphans
and those in need.
The man to whom our Lord
has been liberal
ought not to be stingy.
We shall one day find in Heaven,
as much rest and joy
as we ourselves have dispensed in this life.

St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

I often speak with my Teacher, Jesus,
in the Blessed Sacrament
because I learn from Him.
Jesus is the Teacher of the science of holiness.
I go to Him because I would like to learn,
from Him, how to become a Saint.
Of what use to me is all knowledge
and education, if I do not become holy?

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis