Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on VOCATIONS, SPEAKING of .....

Quote/s of the Day – 25 November – Speaking of: Mercy

Quote/s of the Day – 25 November – Monday of the Thirty Fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 21:1-4

Speaking of:  Mercy

“What sort of people are we?
When God gives, we want to receive,
when He asks, we refuse to give?
When a poor man is hungry,
Christ is in need, as He said Himself:
“I was hungry and you gave me no food” (v. 42).
Take care not to despise the hardship of the poor,
if you would hope, without fear,
to have your sins forgiven…
What He receives on earth,
He returns in heaven!”matthew-18-35-should-you-not-have-pitty-what-sort-of-people-are-we-st-caesarius-of-arles-26-march-2019 and 25 nov 2019.jpg

“I put you this question, dearly beloved –
what is it you want,
what is it you are looking for,
when you come to church?
What indeed if not mercy?
Show mercy on earth and you will receive mercy in heaven.
A poor man is begging from you
and you are begging from God,
he asks for a scrap, you ask for eternal life…
And so when you come to church
give whatever alms you can to the poor
in accordance with your means.”a-poor-man-is-begging-from-you-st-caesarius-of-arles-26-march-2019-matthew-18-21-35 and 25 nov 2019

“So hold fast to the sweet and salutary bond of love,
without which,
the rich are poor
and with which the poor are rich.
What do the rich possess if not charity? (…)
And since “God is love,” (1 Jn 4:8) as John the evangelist says,
what can the poor lack,
if they merit to possess God by means of charity? (…)
So love, dearest brethren
and hold fast to charity.
without which no-one
will ever see God.”

Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-543)matthew-5-44-love-your-enemies-so-hold-fast-to-the-sweet-st-caesarius-of-arles-18-june-2019 and 25 nov 2019

“When we attend to the needs of those in want,
we give them what is theirs, not ours.
More than performing works of mercy,
we are paying a debt of justice.”

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church
“Father of the Fathers”when-we-attend-to-the-needs-of-those-in-want-st-gregory-the-great-3-sept-2019 and 25 nov 2019.jpg

“The poor are our masters,
let us love them and serve them,
as we would serve
Jesus Christ Himself. “

Blessed Vincenza Maria Poloni (1802-1855)the-poor-are-our-masters-bl-vincenza-maria-poloni-11-nov-2019 and 25 nov 2019.jpg

“Yours must be a work of love, of kindness,
you must give your time, your talents, yourselves.
The poor person is a unique person of God’s fashioning
with an inalienable right to respect.
You must not be content with tiding the poor over the poverty crisis,
You must study their condition
and the injustices which brought about such poverty,
with the aim of a long term improvement.”yours must be a work of love of kindeness bl frederic ozanam 25 nov 2019 speaking of mercy.jpg

“It is our vocation to set people’s hearts ablaze,
to do what the Son of God did,
who came to light a fire on earth
in order to set it ablaze with His love.”it-is-our-vocation-bl-frederic-ozanam-9-sept-2019 and 25 nov 2019

“I would like to embrace
the whole world
in a network of charity.”

Blessed Frédéric Ozanam (1813–1853)
“Servant to the Poor”
and Founder of the St Vincent de Paul Societyi-would-like-to-embrace-the-whole-world-bl-frederic-ozanam-9-sept-2019 and 25 nov 2019-1.jpg

“True friendship with Jesus
is expressed in how one lives,
in the goodness of one’s heart,
in one’s humility, kindness and mercy,
in one’s love for justice and truth,
in one’s sincere commitment
to peace and reconciliation.
This, we might say, is the ‘identity card’
that qualifies us as true ‘friends,’
it is the ‘passport’
that will let us enter eternal life.”

Pope Benedict XVI
Angelus, 26 August 2007true-friendship-with-jesus-is-expressed-25-aug-2019-the-narrow-door-pope benedict and 25 nov 2019

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on EDUCATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 July – The Parable of the Sower”

Quote/s of the Day – 26 July – Friday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 13:18–23 – “The Parable of the Sower”

“As for what was sown on good soil,
this is he who hears the word and understands it.
he indeed bears fruit and yields,
in one case a hundredfold,
in another sixty and in another thirty.”

Matthew 13:23matthew 13 23 as for what wa sown on good soil - 26 july 2019.jpg

“Store up in your minds, the Lord’s words
which you receive, through your ears,
for the Word of the Lord, is the nourishment of the mind …
Be careful, that the seed received
through your ears,
remains in your heart.”

Saint Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Forty Gospel Homiliesstore up in your minds the lords words - st pope gregory th great 26 july 2019.jpg

“Cultivate your vineyard together with Jesus.
To you the task of removing stones
and pulling up brambles.
To Jesus, that of sowing, planting,
cultivating and watering.
But even in your work, it is still He who acts.
Because, without Christ,
you could do nothing at all.”

St Pio of Pietralcina “Padre Pio” (1887-1968)

Letter 3: 579cultivate your vineyard togther with jesus - st padre pio - 26 july 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2019, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 31 March -Laetare!

Quote/s of the Day – 31 March – “Laetare” Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C

“There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner
than over a righteous person standing firm.
A leader in battle has more love for a soldier
who returns after fleeing and who valiantly pursues the enemy,
than for one who never turned back
but who never acted valiantly either.
A farmer has greater love for land which bears fruitfully,
after he has cleared it of thorns, than for land
which never had thorns but which never yielded a fruitful harvest.”

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church
“Father of the Fathers”there-is-more-joy-in-heaven-st-pope-gregory-3-sept-2018.jpg

“The sun of our lives is the Eucharist.”the sun of our lives - st luigi guanella 24 oct 2018.jpg

“The earth is filled with tabernacles – Praise Him!”

St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)the-earth-is-filled-with-tabernacles-st-luigi-guanella-24-oct-2018.jpg

“Real joy
seems to me,
almost as unlike
security or prosperity,
as it is unlike
agony.”real-joy-c-s-lewis-12-oct-2018.jpg

“You can’t go back
and change the beginning
but you can start where you are
and change the ending.”you-cant-go-back-and-change-the-beginning-c-s-lewis-23-april-2018.jpg

“He died for us.
Why not live for Him?”

C S Lewis (1898-1963)he-died-for-us-c-s-lewis-13-oct-2017-no2 (1).jpg

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, LENT 2019

Our Morning Offering – 14 March – Now Let Us All with One Accord

Our Morning Offering – 14 March – Thursday of the First week of Lent, Year C

Now Let Us All with One Accord
By St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Now let us all with one accord,
In fellowship with ages past,
Keep vigil with our heav’nly Lord,
In His temptation and his fast.

The covenant so long revealed
To faithful ones in former time,
Christ by His own example sealed,
The Lord of love, in love sublime.

Remember, Lord, though frail we be,
By Your own kind hand we were made
And help us, lest our frailty
Cause Your great name to be betrayed.

Hear us, O Trinity sublime,
And undivided unity.
So let this consecrated time
Bring forth its fruit abundantly.
Amen

now let us all with one accord by st gregory the great - 14 march 2019305.jpg

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Quotes of the Day – 29 January – “Speaking of Repentance”

Quotes of the Day – 29 January

“Speaking of Repentance”

To speak of repentance is not fashionable today in a world that prefers to ignore sin, yet we who belong to Christ can testify that repentance is the way to forgiveness and freedom.   It is the key that unlocks the mercy of God!   The call to repentance is always addressed to ourselves first, since all of us are continually in need of deeper conversion.

“Be ashamed when you sin,
don’t be ashamed when you repent –
Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine.
Sin is followed by shame;
repentance is followed by boldness
Satan has overturned this order
and given boldness to sin and shame to repentance.”be ashmed when you sin - st john chrysostom - 29 jan 2018

“Do you fast?
Then feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
visit the sick, do not forget the imprisoned,
have pity on the tortured,
comfort those who grieve and who weep,
be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient,
sympathetic, forgiving, reverent, truthful and pious,
so that God might accept your fasting
and might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance.”

“Since it is likely that, being men,
they would sin every day,
St Paul consoles his hearers by saying
‘renew yourselves’ from day to day.
This is what we do with houses:
we keep constantly repairing them as they wear old.
You should do the same thing to yourself.
Have you sinned today?
Have you made your soul old?
Do not despair, do not despond
but renew your soul by repentance and tears
and Confession and by doing good things.
And never cease doing this.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Churchdo you fast - st john chrysostom -29 jan 2018

“Repentance is the renewal of baptism.
Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.
A penitent is a buyer of humility.
Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
Repentance is self-condemning reflection of carefree self-care.
Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.
A penitent is an undisgraced convict.
Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord
by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.
Repentance is purification of conscience.
Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions.
A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments.
Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach
and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.”

St John Climacus (579-649) Father of the Church – The Ladder of Divine Ascentrepentance is the renewal of baptism - st john climacus - 29 jan 2019

“To do penance is to bewail
the evil we have done
and to do no evil to bewail.”

St Gregory the Great (540-604) Father & Doctor of the Churchto do penance - st pope gregory the great - 29 jan 2018

“Satisfaction consists in the cutting off
of the causes of the sin.
Thus, fasting is the proper antidote to lust;
prayer to pride, to envy, anger and sloth;
alms to covetousness.”

St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)satisfaction consists in - st richard of chichester - 29 jan 2018

“Where sin was hatched,
let tears now wash the nest.”

St Robert Southwell (1561-1595)where sin was hatched - st robert southwell - 29 jan 2018

“We come to confession quite preoccupied
with the shame that we shall feel.
We accuse ourselves with hot air.
It is said that many confess and few are converted.
I believe it is so, my children,
because few confess with tears of repentance.”we come to confession - st john vianney - 29 jan 2018

“The saints understood how great
an outrage sin is against God.
Some of them passed their lives
in weeping for their sins.
St Peter wept all his life;
he was still weeping at his death.
St Bernard used to say,
‘Lord! Lord! it is I who fastened You to the Cross!'”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)the saints understood - st john vianney - 29 jan 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, SAINT of the DAY, SPEAKING of .....

Quote/s of the Day – 26 January – Memorial of Sts Timothy and Titus, Disciples and Companions of the Apostle Paul and Bishops of the Catholic Church “Speaking of Obedience”

Quote/s of the Day – 26 January – Memorial of Sts Timothy and Titus, Disciples and Companions of the Apostle Paul and Bishops of the Catholic Church

“Speaking of Obedience”

“On each occasion I say:
‘Lord, thy will be done!
It’s not what this or that one wants
but what You want me to do.’
This is my fortress,
this is my firm rock,
this is my sure support.”

St John Chrysostom 347-407) Father & Doctor of the Churchon each occasion I say - st john chrysostom - 26 jan 2018

“Obedience, is rightly placed before all other sacrifices,
for in offering a victim as sacrifice, one offers a life
that is not one’s own;
but when one obeys,
one is immolating one’s own will.”

St Gregory the Great (540-604) Father & Doctor of the Churchobedience is rightly - st gregory the great - 26 jan 2018

“A Christian faithful to obedience,
knows not delays
but prepares his ears for hearing
and his hands and his feet for labour.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Churcha christian faithful - st bernard - 26 jan 2018

“Obedience unites us so closely to God.
that in a way transforms us into Him,
so that we have no other will but His.
If obedience is lacking,
even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Churchobedience unites us - st thomas aquinas - 26 jan 2018

“No man commands safely
unless he has learned well
how to obey.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) – Imitation of Christno man commands - thomas a kempis - 26 jan 2018

“The Devil doesn’t fear austerity
but holy obedience.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Churchthe devil doesn't fear - st francis de sales - 26 jan 2018

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 29 September – – The Feast of Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

Quote of the Day – 29 September – – The Feast of Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

St Gregory the Great teaches us about the Archangels and why they are distinct from angels.

You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature.
Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits.
They can only be called angels when they deliver some message.

ANGELS & ARCHANGELS
Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels;  and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.   And so it was that not merely an angel but the archangel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary.   It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to announce the greatest of all messages.you should be aware - st gregory the great - 29 sept 2017

Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform.   In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows from the vision of almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known.   But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known without them but rather to denote their ministry when they came among us.   Thus, Michael means “Who is like God”  Gabriel is “The Strength of God” and Raphael is “God’s Remedy.”

ST MICHAEL
Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by his superior power.   So also our ancient foe desired in his pride to be like God, saying:  I will ascend into heaven;  I will exalt my throne above the stars of heaven;  I will be like the Most High.   He will be allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed in the final punishment.   Then, he will fight with the archangel Michael, as we are told by John:   A battle was fought with Michael the archangel.

GABRIEL & RAPHAEL
So too Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to Mary.   He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers.   Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle.   [Luke 1:11-38]

Raphael means, as I have said, God’s remedy, for when he touched Tobit’s eyes in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness.   Thus, since he is to heal, he is rightly called God’s remedy.

This post on the archangels is an excerpt from a homily on the Gospels (Hom. 32, 8-9: PL 76, 1250-1251) by St Gregory the Great is used in the Roman Catholic Office of Readings for the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael today.

Posted in DEVOTIO, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 3 September – The Memnorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

Thought for the Day – 3 September – The Memnorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

By his writings, St Gregory is one of the Four Fathers of the Latin Church and the influence of his writings dominated the Middle Ages. His Pastoral Care, became the pastoral manual of later centuies and his Moralia laid the foundation for medieval spirtuality.
In his thirteen years as Pope, this “servant of the servants of God”, crowded in a lifetime.
He died in 604, sick and worn out, still dictating letters on his deathbed.   He was buried at St Peter’s and his epitaph called him “the great consul of God.”

St Gregory shows the critical importance of leadership and the fantastic things that a good leader can accomplish.   He influenced every aspect of religious life and is with good reason called “the Great”.
His life shows how important one man’s witness can be.

We are “one man” too – the tiny bit we do might seem inconsequential – but God works in mysterious ways and His Hand covers all the earth – our tiny bit could well be spread by that Hand!

St Gregory the Great, Servant of the Servants, pray for us!st pope gregory pray for us 2

 

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

Quote/s of the Day – 3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

“If we knew at what time we were to depart from this world,
we would be able to select a season for pleasure
and another for repentance.
But God, who has promised pardon to every repentant sinner,
has not promised us tomorrow.
Therefore we must always dread the final day,
which we can never foresee.
This VERY DAY is a day of truce, a day for conversion.
And yet we refuse to cry over the evil we have done!
Not only do we not weep for the sins we have committed,
we even add to them…”if we knew at what time we were - st gregory the great

“Don’t be anxious about what you have,
but about what you are!”dont be anxious-st pope gregory the great

“When we attend to the needs of those in want,
we give them what is theirs, not ours.
More than performing works of mercy,
we are paying a debt of justice.”when we attend - st gregory the great

“The Emperor of heaven, the Lord of men and of angels,
has sent you His epistles for your life’s advantage—
and yet you neglect to read them eagerly.
Study them, I beg you and meditate daily on the words
of your Creator. Learn the heart of God in the words of God,
that you may sigh more eagerly for things eternal,
that your soul may be kindled
with greater longings for heavenly joy.”he emperor of heaven - st gregory the great

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

 

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection –3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

One Minute Reflection –3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Father & Doctor of the Church

Since the Creation of the world….God’s eternal power and divinity have become visible, recognised through the things he has made..Romans 1:20

REFLECTION – “God is within all things but not included;  outside all things but not excluded.   God is above all things but not beyond their reach.”….St Pope Gregory the Greatgod is within all things - st gregory the great

PRAYER – Lord of creation, grant me the grace to see You in all things and in all places on earth.   Help me to seek and reach You in all the events I experience and all the persons I encounter every day of my life.   St Pope Gregory the Great, Pray for us! Amenst pope gregory the great pray for us

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great – Father & Doctor

Our Morning Offering – 3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great – Father & Doctor

St Gregory’s Prayer of Praise

It is only right,
with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You Father
and Your Only-Begotten Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father,
by Your wondrous condescension
of loving-kindness toward us, Your servants,
You gave up Your Son.
Dear Jesus,
You paid the debt of Adam for us
to the Eternal Father by Your Blood
poured forth in loving-kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin
by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death
and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of eternal happiness
before You redeemed us.
Your Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness
of Your Love!
Amenst gregory's prayer of praise.2

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 July

One Minute Reflection – 22 July

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” …….John 20: 13-15

REFLECTION – “When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: “The disciples went back home,” and it adds: “but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.” We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for Him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see Him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved….Jesus says to her: Mary. Jesus is not recognised when He calls her “woman”; so He calls her by name, as though He were saying: ‘Recognise me as I recognise you; for I do not know you as I know others; I know you as yourself.’ And so Mary, once addressed by name, recognises who is speaking. She immediately calls Him ‘Rabboni’, that is to say, teacher, because the one whom she sought outwardly was the one who inwardly taught her to keep on searching.” – from a homily by St Pope Gregory the Great

and so it happened - st pope gregory the great

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ made Mary of Magdala the first herald of Easter joy. Grant that, following her example and helped by her prayers, we may, in this life, proclaimn he living Christ and come to se Him reigning with You in glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever, amen.

st mary of magdala pray for us

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 20 July

Quote/s of the Day – 20 July

“Let sleep find you holding your Bible
and when you head nods let it be resting
on the sacred page.”
St Jerome (343-420) One of the Original 4 Doctors

le sleep find you - st jerome

“The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye.
In it we see our inner face.
From the Scriptures we can learn
our spiritual deformities and beauties.
And there too we discover the progress
we are making and how far we are from perfection.”
St Gregory the Great (540-604) One of the Original 4 Doctors

the holy bible is like a mirror - st gregory he great

“The Old Testament is like a radio
with its hidden voice
announcing the One to come.
The New Testament is like a television
because the Word became both audible and visible.”
Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

the old testament - fulton sheen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

One Minute Reflection – 30 April

One Minute Reflection – 30 April

Blest are they who have not seen and yet have believed……….John 20:29

john 20-29

REFLECTION – “This Gospel text certainly applies to us – but only if we confirm our faith by our works!
Those truly believe who carry out in practice what they believe.”………..St Gregory the Great

ST GREGORY THE GREAT - THIS GOSPEL TEXT

PRAYER – Jesus my Lord and my God, help me to believe in You with all my might. And let me translate that belief into practice by obeying Your commands each moment of each day. St Marie Guyart of the Incarnation you were truly a shining example to us all of how to confim our faith by our works! Please pray for us, amen.

ST MARIE GUYART OF THE INCARNATION - PRAY FOR US

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 16 April – Easter Sunday

Our Morning Offering – 16 April – Easter Sunday

EASTER PRAYER OF
ST Pope Gregory the Great

It is only right,
with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension
of Loving-Kindness toward us, Your servants,
You gave up Your Son.
Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us
to the Eternal Father by Your Blood
poured forth in Loving-Kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin
by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death
and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled Heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness
before You redeemed us.
Your Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!
We pray You, Lord,
to preserve Your servants in the peaceful enjoyment
of this Easter happiness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with God The Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever
AmenEASTER PRAYER OF ST GREGORY THE GREAT

 

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 12 March – St Seraphina

Saint of the Day – 12 March – St Seraphina/Fina – (1238-1253) – Virgin – Patron of physically challenged people, handicapped people and spinners

She was a little girl, very pretty, born into a very poor family, whose father died when she was very young.   As a little girl she learned to sew and spin, spending most of her time at home.

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After her father’s death, she was struck with a strange and paralyzing illness. She became misshapen and ugly, in constant pain, unable to get out of bed or even to move.   Her mother took care of her but had to leave her for hours at a time to attend to her work. Seraphina’s only consolation was the crucifix and she realized that she was called to imitate the suffering Christ.

So she never complained.   She managed to remain serene and something beautiful shone out of her face.   Then she was struck another blow.   Her mother died and she was left completely destitute, her neighbours repelled by her appearance and her sickness, her only friend a girl named Beldia who visited her and brought her food.

In her reading, St. Seraphina had heard of the great sufferings of Pope St. Gregory the Great and he became her special saint.   She prayed to him, drew strength from the sufferings that he had to endure and prayed that he would obtain for her the patience she needed to bear her own sufferings.   She was now so weak and helpless that it was clear to everyone she could not live very long.

Eight days before her death, alone and almost completely forsaken, St. Gregory appeared to her and told her: “Dear child, on my feast day, God will give you rest” (in those days his feast day was celebrated on March 12).   On that day, she died.   The whole city attended her funeral and from that moment everyone began to pray to her.   On the place where she had lain, her neighbours found white violets growing and even today in the village of San Geminiano where she lived, the white violets that bloom in March are called Santa Fina flowers.   She died on March 12,1253, at the age of fifteen.

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 10 February

Quote of the Day – 10 February

St. Gregory the Great said of Scholastica,

“She could do more because she loved more.”

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