Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Thursday in Passion Week, Our Lady of Boulogne and Memorials of the Saints – 30 March

Thursday in Passion Week – FAST

Re-establishment of Chapel of Our Lady, Boulogne-sur-mer, by Bishop Dormy – Basilica of Notre-Dame de Boulogne-sur-mer: – 30 March:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/30/our-lady-boulogne-sur-mer-and-memorials-of-the-saints-30-march/

Blessed Amadeus of Savoy (1435-1472) IXth Duke of Savoy, nicknamed “the Happy,” was the Duke of Savoy, from 1465 to 1472, apostle of the poor and ill, a pious, humble and gentle ruler. Amadeus was a particular protector of Franciscan Friars and endowed other religious houses, as well as homes for the care of the poor and suffering.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/30/saint-of-the-day-30-march-blessed-amadeus-of-savoy-1435-1472/

St Clinius of Pontecorvo
St Cronan Mochua
St Damiano
St Domnino of Thessalonica
St Fergus of Downpatrick
St Irene of Rome
Blessed Joachim of Fiore (c1130-1202) Abbot, Founder, Theologian

St John Climacus (c 525-606) Abbot, Anchorite Monk, Mystic, Poet, Writer, Ascetic, Father
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/03/30/saint-of-the-day-st-john-climacus-c-525-606/

St Leonard Murialdo
St Mamertinus of Auxerre
St Osburga of Coventry
St Pastor of Orléans
St Patto of Werden
St Quirinus the Jailer

St Peter Regalatus OFM (1320-1456) Priest, Friar of the Friars Minor, Superior, gifted with bi-location, prophecy and Miracle working. He was Canonised on 29 June 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Aguilera in Castile in Spain, Saint Peter Regalado of Valladolid, Priest of the Order of Minors, who was distinguished for humility and rigour of penance and built two cells, in which only twelve Friars could live in solitude.
About this zealous Saint:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/30/saint-of-the-day-30-march-saint-peter-regalatus-ofm-1320-1456/

St Regulus of Scotland
St Regulus of Senlis
St Secundus of Asti
St Tola
St Zozimus of Syracuse

Martyrs of Constantinople: Fourth-century Christians who were exiled, branded on the forehead, imprisoned, tortured, impoverished and murdered during the multi-year persecutions of the Arian Emperor Constantius. They were Martyred between 351 and 359 in Constantinople.

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Posted in DIVINE MERCY, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – Love Him

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

Wherefore I say to you,
her sins, many as they are,
shall be forgiven her
because she has loved much.
But he, to whom little is forgiven,
loves little.”

Luke 7:47

A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of Heaven.
with prayer.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

“Place all your trust in God,
let Him be your fear and your love.
He will answer for you,
He will do what is best for you.
You have here no lasting home.
You are a stranger and a pilgrim
wherever you may be
and you shall have no rest,
until you are wholly united with Christ.
Why do you look about here
when this is not the place of your repose?”

Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)

To magnify her Royal Lover still further,
the soul must have eyes only for Him,
in other words,
with an ever-growing, anxiously eager attentiveness.
the soul must study all the details of His beauty,
His perfections,
must keep on discovering motives
for finding ever-increasing gratification
in the ineffable Beauty with which it is in love.

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

Love tends towards an intimate union
with the person loved
and does not rest,
until this union is achieved.
This is the unity of love.
“It is now, no longer I that live,”
exclaimed St Paul,
“but Christ lives in me”
(Gal 2:20).
If only we could succeed
in achieving such a complete
and lasting union with God,
any sacrifice would seem easy
and we should certainly grow in sanctity.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 23 May – Ask, seek, knock

Quote/s of the Day – 23 May – James 5:16-20, Luke 11:5-13

Ask and it shall be given you: s
seek and you shall find:
knock and it shall be opened to you.

Luke 11:9

Ask with tears,
seek with obedience,
knock with patience.

A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of Heaven.
with prayer.

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

In prayer one must hold fast and never let go,
because the one who gives up, loses all.
If it seems that no-one is listening to you,
then cry out even louder.
If you are driven out of one door,
go back in by the other.

St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

May We Love Only You
By St Columban (543-615)

Loving Saviour,
be pleased to show Yourself to us who knock,
so that in knowing You,
we may love only You,
love You alone,
desire You alone,
contemplate only You, day and night
and always think of You.
Inspire in us the depth of love
that is fitting for You to receive as God.
So may Your love pervade our whole being,
possess us completely
and fill all our senses,
that we may know no other love
but love for You,
Who are everlasting.
May our love be so great,
that the many waters of sky, land and sea
cannot extinguish it in us –
many waters could not extinguish love.
May this saying be fulfilled
in us also, at least in part,
by Your gift,
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
to Whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen

Posted in FRANCISCAN OFM, MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent , Notre-Dame de Boulogne-sur-mer / Our Lady of Boulogne-sur-mer and Memorials of the Saints – 30 March

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent +2022

Re-establishment of Chapel of Our Lady, Boulogne-sur-mer, by Bishop Dormy – Basilica of Notre-Dame de Boulogne-sur-mer: – 30 March:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/30/our-lady-boulogne-sur-mer-and-memorials-of-the-saints-30-march/

Blessed Amadeus of Savoy (1435-1472) IXth Duke of Savoy, nicknamed “the Happy,” was the Duke of Savoy, from 1465 to 1472, apostle of the poor and ill, a pious, humble and gentle ruler. Amadeus was a particular protector of Franciscan Friars and endowed other religious houses, as well as homes for the care of the poor and suffering.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/30/saint-of-the-day-30-march-blessed-amadeus-of-savoy-1435-1472/

St Clinius of Pontecorvo
St Cronan Mochua
St Damiano
St Domnino of Thessalonica
St Fergus of Downpatrick
St Irene of Rome
Bl Joachim of Fiore

St John Climacus (c 525-606) Abbot, Anchorite Monk, Mystic, Poet, Writer, Ascetic, Father
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/03/30/saint-of-the-day-st-john-climacus-c-525-606/

St Julio Álvarez Mendoza
St Leonard Murialdo
St Ludovico of Casoria
St Mamertinus of Auxerre

St Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy MEP (1818-1866) Bishop Martyr, Missionary of the Paris Foreign Missionary Society, Apostolic Vicar to Korea.
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/30/saint-of-the-day-30-march-saint-marie-nicolas-antoine-daveluy-mep-1818-1866-bishop-martyr/

Bl Maria Restituta Kafka
St Osburga of Coventry
St Pastor of Orléans
St Patto of Werden
St Quirinus the Jailer
St Peter Regalatus OFM (1320-1456) Priest, Friar of the Friars Minor.

St Regulus of Scotland
St Regulus of Senlis
St Secundus of Asti
St Tola
St Zozimus of Syracuse

Martyrs of Constantinople: Fourth-century Christians who were exiled, branded on the forehead, imprisoned, tortured, impoverished and murdered during the multi-year persecutions of the Arian Emperor Constantius. They were martyred between 351 and 359 in Constantinople.

Martyrs of Korea:
Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy
Iosephus Chang Chu-gi
Lucas Hwang Sok-tu
Martin-Luc Huin
Pierre Aumaître

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, JESUIT SJ, OUR Cross, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 January – “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” – Matthew 8:26

Quote/s of the Day – 30 January – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 8:23-27

Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?
Then He arose
and rebuked the wind and the sea
and there came a great calm.

Matthew 8:26

Whoever has become a servant of the Lord,
fears only his Master.
But whoever is without the fear of God,
is often afraid of his own shadow.
Fearfulness is the daughter of unbelief.
A proud soul is the slave of fear,
hoping in itself,
it comes to such a state,
that it is startled by a small noise
and is afraid of the dark
.”

St John Climacus (579-649)
Father of the Church

God’s love calls us to move beyond fear.
We ask God for the courage
to abandon ourselves unreservedly,
so that we might be moulded
by God’s grace,
even as we cannot see
where that path may lead us.

St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Do not look forward
to the changes and chances
of this life in fear –
rather look to them with full hope that,
as they arise, God, whose you are,
will deliver you out of them.
He is your keeper.
He has kept you hitherto.
Do you but hold fast to His dear hand
and He will lead you safely through all things
and, when you cannot stand,
He will bear you in His arms.
Do not look forward to
what may happen tomorrow.
Our Father will either shield you from suffering,
or He will give you strength to bear it.

… Let the fine point of your spirit
always turn towards God, its north.
Your are about to take to the high seas
of the world, do not, on this account,
alter dial or mast, sail or anchor or wind.
Keep Jesus Christ
as your dial, at all times,
His Cross for mast,
on which to hoist
your resolutions, as a sail.
Let your anchor be,
profound trust in Him
and set out early!

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

“…Therefore, never allow yourself
to start brooding again
but always be brave and trust.
Serve your good Master
with an open heart full of joy.
The right way is to see all events
and all obstacles
in the spirit of faith
as being in the hands of Our Lord
and to hear Him say to you,
on every occasion,
as He did to the disciples,
‘It is I. Do not fear.
Have faith.’

St Michael Garicoïts (1797-1863)

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDIOCRITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – Prayer

Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Readings: Colossians 2: 6-15; Psalm 145: 1b-2, 8-9-11; Luke 6: 12-19

“Jesus departed to the mountain to pray
and he spent the night in prayer to God”

Luke 6:12

“Prayer is the wing,
wherewith the soul flies to heaven
and meditation,
the eye,
wherewith we see God.”

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

“Ask with tears,
seek with obedience,
knock with patience.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

“[Prayer] is the one means for our purification,
the one way to union with God,
the one channel by which God may unite Himself with us,
that He may do anything with us, for His glory.
To obtain the virtues of an apostle,
we must pray;
to make them of use to our neighbour,
we must pray;
to prevent our losing them,
while we use them in His service,
we must pray.
The counsel, or rather the commandment:
Pray always, seems to me extremely sweet
and by no means impossible.
It secures the practice of the presence of God …”

St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)
“Apostle of the Sacred Heart”

“In silence, He listens to us,
in silence He speaks to our souls,
in silence we are granted the privilege
of hearing His voice –

Silence of the eyes,
Silence of the ears,
Silence of our mouths,
Silence of our minds.
In the silence of the heart
God will speak.”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

‘No Greater Love’

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day -15 May – ‘Ask the Father anything in my name …’ Let us pray

Quote/s of the Day – 15 May – “Mary’s Month” – Readings: Acts 18: 23-28, Psalms 47: 2-3, 8-9, 10, John 16: 23-28

“Amen, amen I say to you,
if you ask the Father anything in my name,
he will give it you.”

John 16:27

“Prayer is the wing,
wherewith the soul flies to heaven
and meditation,
the eye,
wherewith we see God.”

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

Lift up and stretch out your hands,
not to heaven but to the poor…
if you lift up your hands in prayer
without sharing with the poor,
it is worth nothing.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of heaven.
with prayer.”

“Ask with tears,
seek with obedience,
knock with patience.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

Prayer for the Gift of Prayer
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O Incarnate Word,
You have given Your Blood and Your Life
to confer on our prayers that power by which,
according to Your promise,
they obtain for us all that we ask.
And we, O God,
are so careless of our salvation,
that we will not even ask You for the graces
that we must have, if we should be saved!
In prayer You have given us the key
of all Your Divine treasures;
and we, rather than pray,
choose to remain in our misery.
Alas! O Lord, enlighten us,
and make us know the value of prayers,
offered in Your name and by Your merits,
in the eyes of Your Eternal Father.
Amen

“My children, your heart is small
but prayer expands it
and makes it able to love God.
Prayer is a foretaste of heaven,
an outflowing of paradise.
It never leaves us without sweetness.
It is honey, which descends into the soul
and sweetens everything.
Sorrows melt in a prayer,
that is well prayed,
like snow in the sun.”

St John-Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – St John Climacus

Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – The Memorial of St John Climacus (c 525-606) Father of the Church

“A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of heaven.
with prayer.”

“Confession is like a bridle
that keeps the soul,
which reflects on it,
from committing sin
but anything left unconfessed,
we continue to do without fear,
as if in the dark.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

MORE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/30/quote-s-of-the-day-30-march-st-john-climacus-humility/

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame de Boulogne-sur-mer / Our Lady, Boulogne-sur-mer and Memorials of the Saints – 30 March

Re-establishment of Chapel of Our Lady, Boulogne-sur-mer, by Bishop Dormy – Basilica of Notre-Dame de Boulogne-sur-mer: – 30 March:

The Basilica of Our Lady of Boulogne, also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is a minor Basilica in Boulogne-Sur-Mer in northern France. The Basilica is a prominent landmark of the city and was built upon the medieval Cathedral of the same name.

It was in the year 633 that an unmanned boat was seen carrying a luminous Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the estuary at Boulogne. Saint Omer, (also known as Audomare) was the Bishop and the Statue was carried to the Church where miracles soon began to occur. This Statue, known as Notre-Dame de la Mer (Our Lady of the Sea) became a popular object of pilgrimage between the 13th and 16th centuries.
In about 1100 a new Church was constructed at the site that underwent many changes over the centuries, including the addition of a choir. It was in this Church that King Edward II was married to Isabella of France.
The Church flourished until the advent of the French Revolution, with its liberal principles that overthrew the Catholic Nonarchy, instigated violence, turmoil and anarchy, destroyed the men who set it in motion and, eventually, culminated not in liberty, fraternity and equality among Frenchmen but instead in a cruel dictatorship under Napoleon.
The Church of Notre-Dame of Boulogne was seized and worship was prohibited. The structure was used as a military warehouse until it was sold to traders from outside the City, who began demolishing the Church in stages. Finally, in 1793, the miraculous Statue of Our Lady of the Sea was burned, leaving only a small portion of the hand. Only the Crypt of the medieval structure survived and this is the longest Crypt in France. (There is a wonderful article regarding the Basilica and especially, the Crypt here: https://thegoodlifefrance.com/the-crypt-of-notre-dame-cathedral-boulogne-sur-mer/ )

A local Priest, Benoit Haffreingue, vowed to rebuild the Cathedral. He was a self-taught architect, with a strong desire to restore the honour of Our Lady of the Sea and return the Bishop to their City. He led a campaign to garner the support he would need for the work and by his enthusiasm, the public rallied to support the project.
Once work was begun, Fr Haffreingue discovered a huge Crypt about 128 meters long. It had been there unknown for centuries, perhaps having been filled in during the time of the siege of Boulogne in 1544 by King Henry VIII of England. The Romanesque style columns were crafted in the 11th century. There were also the foundations of a Roman temple dedicated to Mars and cannonballs used during the 1544 siege. See the Crypt below.
The fact that Fr Haffreingue was self-taught, may be the reason that the nave’s slender arches collapsed in the year 1921. During the time the repairs were being made, the whole structure was reinforced with concrete, which many feel made it possible to survive the bombing the City received, during World War II.

__
Blessed Amadeus of Savoy (1435-1472) IXth Duke of Savoy
St Clinius of Pontecorvo
St Cronan Mochua
St Damiano
St Domnino of Thessalonica
St Fergus of Downpatrick
St Irene of Rome
Bl Joachim of Fiore
St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/03/30/saint-of-the-day-st-john-climacus-c-525-606/

St Julio Álvarez Mendoza
St Leonard Murialdo
St Ludovico of Casoria
St Mamertinus of Auxerre
St Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy MEP (1818-1866) Bishop Martyr
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/30/saint-of-the-day-30-march-saint-marie-nicolas-antoine-daveluy-mep-1818-1866-bishop-martyr/
Bl Maria Restituta Kafka
St Osburga of Coventry
St Pastor of Orléans
St Patto of Werden
St Quirinus the Jailer
St Regulus of Scotland
St Regulus of Senlis
St Secundus of Asti
St Tola
St Zozimus of Syracuse

Martyrs of Constantinople: ourth-century Christians who were exiled, branded on the forehead, imprisoned, tortured, impoverished and murdered during the multi-year persecutions of the Arian Emperor Constantius. They were martyred between 351 and 359 in Constantinople.

Martyrs of Korea:
Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy
Iosephus Chang Chu-gi
Lucas Hwang Sok-tu
Martin-Luc Huin
Pierre Aumaître

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 25 February – Ask, Seek, Knock – Matthew 7:7

Quote/s of the Day – 25 February – Thursday of the First week of Lent, Readings: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25, Psalms 138:1-2,2-3, 7-8, Matthew 7:7-12

“Ask and it will be given you,
seek and you will find,
knock and it will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7

“Prayer is the wing,
wherewith the soul flies to heaven
and meditation,
the eye,
wherewith we see God.”

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

“Ask with tears,
seek with obedience,
knock with patience.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

“All who ask receive, those who seek find
and to those who knock it shall be opened.
Therefore, let us knock
at the beautiful garden of Scripture.
It is fragrant, sweet and blooming
with various sounds of spiritual
and divinely inspired birds.
They sing all around our ears,
capture our hearts,
comfort the mourners,
pacify the angry
and fill us with everlasting joy.”

St John Damascene (676-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“He promises to be [our] strength,
in proportion to the trust
which [we] place in Him.”

St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)
“Apostle of the Sacred Heart”

“On the journey of this life to eternity,
let me carry You in my heart,
following Mary’s example,
who bore You in her arms,
during the flight to Egypt.”

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGELS, The WORD

Quotes of the Day – 2 October – Holy Guardian Angels

Quotes of the Day – 2 October – The Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

“See, I am sending an angel before you,
to guard you on the way
and bring you to the place
I have prepared.
Give heed to him
and hearken to his voice.
Do not rebel against him,
for he will not forgive your sin.
My authority is within him.”

Exodus 23:20-21

“Beside each believer
stands an Angel
as protector and shepherd,
leading him to life.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“If we detect an angel,
by the effect he is producing,
let us hasten to pray,
since our heavenly guardian
has come to join us.”

St John Climacus (579-649)
Father of the Church

“Each man has a angel guardian
appointed to him….
Angel guardians are given to man also
as regards invisible and secret things,
concerning the salvation
of each one in his own regard.
Hence, individual angels are appointed
to guard individual men.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor

“The first thing about the Angels
which we ought to imitate,
is their consciousness
of the Presence of God.”

“What joy it is to know
that when we go out of the house,
we are never alone en route.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/10/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-october-the-memorial-of-the-holy-guardian-angels/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, SACRED HEART QUOTES, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 June – ‘I put all my trust in Thee …’

Quote/s of the Day – 30 June – “The Last day of the Month of the Sacred Heart” – Tuesday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time Year A, Readings: Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12, Psalm 5:5-8, Matthew 8:23-27

And they went and woke him, saying,
“Save us, Lord, we are perishing.”

Matthew 8:25

matthew 8 25 and they went and woke him saying save us lord - 30 june 2020

“It is I, be not afraid”

John 6:20

john 6 20 - it is I be not afraid 4 may 2019

“Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27

john 14 27 let not your hearts be troubled - 12 may 2020

“The waters have risen
and severe storms are upon us
but we do not fear drowning,
for we stand firmly upon a rock.
Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock.
Let the waves rise,
they cannot sink the boat of Jesus.”

the-waters-have-risen-but-they-cannot-break-the-rock-st-john-chrysostom-13-sept-2019 and 30 june 2020

“Let the world be in upheaval.
I hold to His promise and read His message,
that is my protecting wall and garrison.
What message?
‘Know that I am with you always,
until the end of the world!'”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Churchlet the world be in upheaval i hold to his opromise -st john chrysostom 30 june 2020

“It is not a calm sky, beloved
but the storm which tests a pilot’s skill.
When the breeze is mild,
even the poorest sailor,
can manage the ship.
But in the crosswinds of a tempest,
we want the best pilot with all His skill.”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 406 – c 450)
Father and Doctor of the Church

it is not a calm sky beloved but the storm which tests a pilot's skill - st peter chrysologus 30 june 2020

“Whoever has become a servant of the Lord,
fears only his Master.
But whoever is without the fear of God,
is often afraid of his own shadow.
Fearfulness is the daughter of unbelief.
A proud soul is the slave of fear,
hoping in itself,
it comes to such a state,
that it is startled by a small noise
and is afraid of the dark.”

St John Climacus (579-649)
Father of the Church

whoever-has-become-a-servant-of-the-lord-st-john-climacus-2-july-2019 and 30 june 2020

“O Heart of love,
I put all my trust in Thee,
for I fear all things,
from my own weakness,
but I hope for all things,
from Thy Goodness.”

St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)

o-heart-of-love-i-put-all-my-trust-in-thee-16-oct-2019 and 30 June 2020

“…Therefore, never allow yourself to start brooding again
but always be brave and trust.
Serve your good Master with an open heart full of joy.
The right way is to see all events and all obstacles
in the spirit of faith as being in the hands of Our Lord
and to hear Him say to you, on every occasion,
as He did to the disciples
‘It is I.   Do not fear.   Have faith.’”

St Michael Garicoïts (1797-1863)

therefore-never-allow-yourself-to-start-brooding-st-michel-garicoits-14-may-2019 and 30 june 2020

“We need not be afraid
because even while He sleeps,
He watches over us.
Jesus does not save us FROM storms,
He saves us IN storms.
DO NOT WAKE Jesus.
Let Him sleep.
He is still in control!”

Msgr Alex Rebello

Daily Reflections

we need not be afraid because even while he sleeps - msgr alex rebello 30 june 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MINI SERIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SPEAKING of ....., The BEATITUDES, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 June – Part One: The Beatitudes

Quote/s of the Day – 8 June – Month of the Sacred Heart” – Monday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: 1 Kings 17:1-6, Psalm 121:1-8, Matthew 5:1-12

Part One:  The Beatitudes (a tiny beginning)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

matthew 5 3 blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kigndom of heaven 8 june 2020

“…For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself, will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14

LUKE 18-14

“Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues,
hence, in the soul in which this virtue does NOT exist,
there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”

“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending.
You plan a tower, that will pierce the clouds?
Lay first, the foundation of humility.”

” There never can have been
and never can be
and there never shall be,
any sin without pride.”

St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church

st augustine - 22 march 2018 - speaking of humility -humility is the foundation, do you wish to rise, there never can be

“Humility is the only virtue
that no devil can imitate.
If pride made demons out of angels,
there is no doubt,
that humility could
make angels out of demons.”

humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate - st john climacus-30 march 2020

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

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

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

“‘… Choose the same things as Himself…’”
That which is small and despised,
that is what He has chosen,
my Saviour and God,
who put on our flesh
to confound human fame and wealth.”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Monk and Theologian at Constantinople

Catechesis 78

choose the same things as himself-st theodore the studite 7 may 2020

“Your Master is not disturbed by mockery and do you get upset?
He bears spittle, blows, strokes of the lash
and can you not take a harsh word?
He accepts the cross, a humiliating death,
the torture of the nails
and can you not undertake to carry out the lowliest of tasks?
How can you become a sharer in His glory (1 Pt 5:1)
if you will not consent to become a sharer in His humiliating death?”

St Simeon the New Theologian (949-1022)

Catechesis 27

how can you become a sharer in his glory - 28 march 2019 st simeon the new theologian 28 march 2019

“We are ever but beginning,
the most perfect Christian,
is to himself but a beginner,
a penitent prodigal
who has squandered God’s gifts
and comes to Him,
to be tried over again,
not as a son
but as a hired servant.”

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

we-are-ever-but-beginning-bl-john-henry-newman-16-aug-2019-and-27-oct-2019 and 14 march 2020

 

 

Posted in EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 April – Repentance

Quote/s of the Day – 16 April – Easter Thursday, Readings: Acts 3:11-26, Psalm 8:2, 5-9, Luke 24:35-48 and the Memorial of St Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783)

“… And said to them,
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer
and on the third day rise from the dead 
and repentance for the forgiveness of sins
should be proclaimed in his name to all nations…”

Luke 24:46-47

luke 24 46-47 thus it is written that the christ - 15 april 2020 easter thursday

“Repentance lifts a man up. 
Mourning knocks at heaven’s gate.
Holy humility opens it.”

St John Climacus (579-649)

“The Ladder of Divine Ascent” (Step 25)

repentance lifts a man up. mourning knocks at heaven's gate - st john climacus 30 march 2020

“Meditate on the horrors of Hell,
which will last for eternity
because of one easily-committed mortal sin.
Try hard to be among the few who are chosen.
Think of the eternal flames of Hell
and how few there are that are saved.”

meditate on the horrors of hell - st benedict joseph labre 16 april 2020

“The want of proper examination,
true contrition and a firm purpose of amendment,
is the cause of bad confessions
and of the ruin of souls.”

St Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783)
“The Beggar of Perpetual Adoration”

the want of proper examination, true contrition - st benedict joseph labre 16 april 2020

“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 and adpated - 16 april 2020

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on REPARATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – St John Climacus – “Humility”

Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – The Memorial of St John Climacus (c 525-606) Father of the Church

“Humility is the only virtue
that no devil can imitate.
If pride made demons out of angels,
there is no doubt,
that humility could
make angels out of demons.”

humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate - st john climacus-30 march 2020

“Obedience is the burial of the will
and the resurrection of humility.”

obedience is the burial of the will and the resurrection of humility - st john climacus 30 march 2020

“Repentance lifts a man up.
Mourning knocks at heaven’s gate.
Holy humility opens it.”

repentance lifts a man up. mourning knocks at heaven's gate - st john climacus 30 march 2020

“… A proud soul is the slave of fear,
hoping in itself, in comes to such a state,
that it is startled by a small noise
and is afraid of the dark.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

a poud soul is the slave of fear - st john climacus 30 march 2020

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 30 March

Bl Amadeus of Savoy
St Clinius of Pontecorvo
St Cronan Mochua
St Damiano
St Domnino of Thessalonica
St Fergus of Downpatrick
St Irene of Rome
Bl Joachim of Fiore
St John Climacus (c 525-606) 
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/03/30/saint-of-the-day-st-john-climacus-c-525-606/

St Julio Álvarez Mendoza
St Leonard Murialdo
St Ludovico of Casoria
St Mamertinus of Auxerre
St Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy MEP (1818-1866) Bishop Martyr
Bl Maria Restituta Kafka
St Osburga of Coventry
St Pastor of Orléans
St Patto of Werden
St Peter Regulatus
St Quirinus the Jailer
St Regulus of Scotland
St Regulus of Senlis
St Secundus of Asti
St Tola
St Zozimus of Syracuse

Martyrs of Constantinople: ourth-century Christians who were exiled, branded on the forehead, imprisoned, tortured, impoverished and murdered during the multi-year persecutions of the Arian Emperor Constantius. They were martyred between 351 and 359 in Constantinople.

Martyrs of Korea:
Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy
Iosephus Chang Chu-gi
Lucas Hwang Sok-tu
Martin-Luc Huin
Pierre Aumaître

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Meditation:
Fill our hearts with your love.

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

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

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

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

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

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

St John Climacus (c 525-606)

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

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

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – ‘Before all else …’

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 11:1–13 and the Memorial of St Pedro Poveda (1874-1936) Martyr

“For everyone who asks, receives and he who seeks, finds and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” … Luke 11:10

REFLECTION – “The attitude of prayer is one and the same for all but there are many kinds of prayer and many different prayers.   Some converse with God as with a friend and master, interceding with praise and petition not for themselves but for others.  Some strive for more (spiritual) riches and glory and for confidence in prayer.   Others ask for complete deliverance from their adversary.   Some beg to receive some kind of rank, others for complete forgiveness of debts.   Some ask to be released from prison, others for remission of accusations.
Before all else, let us list sincere thanksgiving, first on our prayer-card.   On the second line we should put confession and heartfelt contrition of soul.   Then let us present our petition to the King of all.   This is the best way of praying.” … St John Climacus (c 575-c.650) The Ladder of Divine Ascent 28, 6-7luke 11 10 for everyone who asks - befoe all else let us put sincere thanksgiving st john climacus 28 july 2019.jpg

PRAYER – All-powerful and ever-living God, splendour of true light and never-ending day, chase away the night of sin and fill our minds with the glory of Your coming.    Take away our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh, help us in our battle with sin and the devil.   By our prayers, Your holy sacraments and the strength of the Holy Spirit, may we be ever vigilant of the evil one.   By our baptism in Your Son, we are Your children, grant us Your protection.   Listen, to the prayers of Saint Pedro Poveda, as we ask for his intercession, through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.st pedro poveda pray for us 28 july 2019.jpg

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

Quote/s of the Day – 2 July – “Why are you afraid…?”

Quote/s of the Day – 2 July – Tuesday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 8:23-37

“Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26matthew 8 26 - why are you afraid o men of little faith 2 july 2019.jpg

“Whoever has become a servant of the Lord, fears only his Master.
But whoever is without the fear of God,
is often afraid of his own shadow.
Fearfulness is the daughter of unbelief.
A proud soul is the slave of fear,
hoping in itself,
it comes to such a state,
that it is startled by a small noise
and is afraid of the dark.”

St John Climacus (579-649)whoever has become a servant of the lord - st john climacus 2 july 2019

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, HOLY WEEK, HOLY WEEK 2019, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 18 April – Love, or the name of God

Quote/s of the Day – 18 April – Maundy Thursday

Love, or the name of God

St John Climacus (579-649)

The Ladder of Divine Ascent; 30,6-9.21.16

God is love. (1Jn 4:8)   So he who wishes to define this, tries with bleary eyes to measure the sand in the ocean.

Love, by reason of its nature, is a resemblance to God, as far as that is possible for mortals.   In its activity it is inebriation of the soul and by its distinctive property, it is a fountain of faith, an abyss of patience, a sea of humility.

Love is essentially the banishment, of every kind of contrary, for love thinks no evil.  Love, dispassion and adoption, are distinguished, as sons from one another, by name and name only.   Just as light, fire and flame combine to form one power, it is the same with love, dispassion and adoption.love by reason of its nature - st john climacus - 18 april 2019 holy thursday.jpg

He who has perfectly united his feeling to God is mystically led by Him to an understanding of His words.   But without this union, it is difficult to speak about God.

If the face of a loved one, clearly and completely changes us and makes us cheerful, joyous and carefree, what will the face of the Lord not do, when He makes His presence felt, invisibly in a soul?if the face of a loved one - st john climacus 15 april 2019 holy thursday.jpg

“Love wakes much and sleeps little 
and, in sleeping, does not sleep. 
It faints but is not weary; 
it is restricted in its liberty
and is great freedom. 
It sees reasons to fear 
and does not fear 
but, like an ember or a spark of fire, 
flames always upward, 
by the fervour of its love, toward God
and through the special help of grace,
is delivered from all perils and dangers.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)love-wakes-much-and-sleeps-little-thomas-a-kempis-14-june-2018.jpg

 

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2019, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Lenten Thoughts – 30 March – The Ladder of Divine Ascent – The Steps

Lenten Thoughts – 30 March – Saturday of the Third week of Lent, Year C and the Memorial of St John Climacus (c 525-606)

The Ladder of Divine Ascent is an ascetical treatise on avoiding vice and practising virtue so that at the end, salvation can be obtained. Written by Saint John Climacus initially for monastics, it has become one of the most highly influential and important works used by the Church as far as guiding the faithful to a God-centred life, second only to Holy Scripture.

Structure and Purpose:
The aim of the treatise is to be a guide for practising a life completely and wholly devoted to God.   The ladder metaphor—not dissimilar to the vision that the Patriarch Jacob received—is used to describe how one may ascend into heaven by first renouncing the world and finally ending up in heaven with God.   There are thirty chapter,; each covers a particular vice or virtue.   They were originally called logoi, but in the present day, they are referred to as “steps.”   The sayings are not so much rules and regulations, as with the Law that St Moses received at Sinai, but rather observations about what is being practised.   Metaphorical language is employed frequently, to better illustrate the nature of virtue and vice.   Overall, the treatise does follow a progression that transitions from start (renunciation of the world) to finish (a life lived in love).the 30 steps of the ladder of divine ascent - 30 march 2019.jpg

The steps are:
On renunciation of the world
On detachment
On exile or pilgrimage – concerning dreams that beginners have
On blessed and ever-memorable obedience (in addition to episodes involving many individuals)
On painstaking and true repentance which constitutes the life of the holy convicts; and about the Prison
On remembrance of death
On joy-making mourning
On freedom from anger and on meekness
On remembrance of wrongs
On slander or calumny
On talkativeness and silence
On lying
On despondency
On that clamorous mistress, the stomach
On incorruptible purity and chastity, to which the corruptible attain by toil and sweat
On love of money, or avarice
On non-possessiveness (that hastens one Heavenwards)
On insensibility, that is, deadening of the soul and the death of the mind before the death of the body
On sleep, prayer and psalmody with the brotherhood
On bodily vigil and how to use it to attain spiritual vigil, and how to practise it
On unmanly and puerile cowardice
On the many forms of vainglory
On mad pride and (in the same Step) on unclean blasphemous thoughts; concerning unmentionable blasphemous thoughts
On meekness, simplicity, and guilelessness which come not from nature but from conscious effort, and about guile
On the destroyer of the passions, most sublime humility, which is rooted in spiritual perception
On discernment of thoughts, passions and virtues; on expert discernment; brief summary of all aforementioned
On holy stillness of body and soul; different aspects of stillness and how to distinguish them
On holy and blessed prayer, the mother of virtues, and on the attitude of mind and body in prayer
Concerning Heaven on earth, or Godlike dispassion and perfection, and the resurrection of the soul before the general resurrection
Concerning the linking together of the supreme trinity among the virtues; a brief exhortation summarising all that has said at length in this book.

Read the book, here

“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.”repentance-is-the-renewal-of-baptism-st-john-climacus-and 30 march 2019 - 29-jan-2019.jpg

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2019, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 30 March – St John Climacus – On Prayer

Quote of the Day – 30 March – Saturday of the Third week of Lent, Year C, Gospel: Luke 18:9–14 and the Memorial of St John Climacus (c 525-606)

On Prayer

“The one who requests less than he deserves from God will surely obtain more than he deserves.   

This is clearly shown by the tax-collector who requested forgiveness but obtained justification.   

And the thief merely requested to be remembered in His Kingdom, but he inherited Paradise.”

St John Climacuste one who requests less - st john climacus 30march 2019.jpg

Posted in LENT 2019, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Lenten Reflection – 30 March

Lenten Reflection – 30 March – Saturday of the Third week of Lent, Year C and the Memorial of St John Climacus (c 525-606)

The Readings
Hosea 6:1-6; Psalms 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21AB; Luke 18:9-14 

On sobriety in prayer

St John Climacus

Do not be over-sophisticated in the words you use when praying, because the simple and unadorned lisping of children has often won the heart of their heavenly Father.   Do not attempt to talk much when you pray, lest your mind be distracted in searching for words. One word of the publican propitiated God and one cry of faith saved the thief.  Loquacity in prayer often distracts the mind and leads to fantasy, whereas brevity- makes for concentration.   If you feel sweetness or compunction at some word of your prayer, dwell on it, for then our guardian angel is praying with us.

Ask with tears, seek with obedience, knock with patience.   For thus the one who asks, receives and the one who seeks, finds and to anyone who knocks it will be opened.

Those who keep constant hold of the staff of prayer will not stumble.   And even if they do, their fall will not be fatal.   For prayer is a devout coercion of God.ask with tears knock with - st john climacus.jpg

Daily Meditation:
Fill our hearts with Your love.

Our lesson today reminds us again of God’s love and Jesus’ desire
that we love one another as we are loved.
On this journey, we are learning why this is a challenge for us.
We are experiencing our human weaknesses and practising ways to be freer,
to open our hearts more fully to God’s love
and to give ourselves in fidelity, every day.

You ask us to express our thanks by self-denial.
“Come, let us return to the Lord,
for he has torn, that he may heal us,
he has stricken and he will bind us up.”
Hosea 6:1

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

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.Sat of the thirs week lent 30 march 2019.jpg

Posted in LENT 2019, MARIAN QUOTES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 30 March –

One Minute Reflection – 30 March – Saturday of the Third week of Lent, Year C, Gospel: Luke 18:9–14

“…For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself, will be exalted.”...Luke 18:14luke-18-14-everuone who exalts himself shall be humbled.jpg

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

PRAYER – We turn to You our God and Father and seek Your comfort and assurance. Jesus, our Lord, Your Son, taught us how to pray and all we need to be and do, to reach You.   Be patient good Father, as we grow by Your grace.   May such a master of prayer, St John Climacus, be heard together with the Mother of Christ and of Prayer, as they pray on our behalf.   Through Jesus our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, God now and forever, amen.luke 2 19 but mary kept all these things mary mother of prayer pray for us 30 march 2019.jpg

st john climacus pray for us 30 march 2019.jpg

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 30 March – St John Climacus (c 525-606)

Saint of the Day – 30 March – St John Climacus (c 525-606) aged 80-81 – Anchorite Monk, Mystic, Poet, Writer, Ascetic – also known as St John of the Ladder, John Scholasticus, John the Sinaita. John made, while still young, such progress in learning that he was called the Scholastic.

A native of Palestine, at sixteen, John entered a monastery in the Palestinian desert.  After four years of training in a community, he took the vows and an aged abbot foretold that he would some day be one of the greatest lights of the Church.snipped out getty st john climacus.JPG

Nineteen years later, on the death of his director, he withdrew into a deeper solitude, where he studied the lives and writings of the Saints and was raised to an unusual height of contemplation.   The fame of his holiness and practical wisdom drew crowds around him for advice and consolation.   For his greater profit he visited the solitudes of Egypt. He lived forty years as a hermit.   Like other desert fathers, he broke his near-total solitude only on Saturdays and Sundays to worship with other hermits and counsel his followers.

Early in his monastic career John decided that as a mark of submision to God he would receive all criticism as true.   Once, for example, some monks reproached him for wasting time in idle conversation.   So, to correct what he regarded as a serious fault, for a year John observed absolute silence.   Only when his disciples insisted that they needed his spiritual teaching did the saint start speaking again.st john climacus 304px-Św_Jan_Klimak,_Jerzy_i_Błażej

He was induced by a brother abbot to write the rules by which he had guided his life and his book called the Climax, or Ladder of Perfection/The Ladder of Divine Ascent, has been prized in all ages for its wisdom, its clearness and its unction.  He took his name Climacus or “ladder” from his book .   The reader who climbed The Ladder ascended thirty steps to holiness.   According to St John, the goal was to reach a state of apatheia or passive disinterestedness in earthly life, so as to anticipate the wonders of heaven.my snip - st john climacus

Each step communicates some practical insight into Christian living that twenty-first-century readers will still find beneficial.   An icon known by the same title, Ladder of Divine Ascent, depicts a ladder extending from earth to heaven (cf. Genesis 28:12) Several monks are depicted climbing a ladder; at the top is Jesus, prepared to receive them into Heaven.   Also shown are angels helping the climbers and demons attempting to shoot with arrows or drag down the climbers, no matter how high up the ladder they may be.   Most versions of the icon show at least one person falling.   Often, in the lower right corner St John Climacus himself is shown, gesturing towards the ladder, with rows of monastics behind him.

536px-The_Ladder_of_Divine_Ascent_Monastery_of_St_Catherine_Sinai_12th_century
12th century icon (Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt)

When John was seventy he was elected abbot of the monastery at Mount Sinai.   That was an appropriate choice, for many monks saw John as a Moses who had received Christian commandments from God and recorded them in his Ladder.   After four years in office, John retired to his cell and died there c 606 at around eighty years of age.

St John’s feast day is 30 March in both the East and West.   The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine Catholic Churches additionally commemorate him on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent.   Many churches are dedicated to him in Russia, including a church and belltower in the Moscow Kremlin.john-of-the-ladder.jpg

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 30 March

Bl Amadeus of Savoy
St Clinius of Pontecorvo
St Cronan Mochua
St Damiano
St Domnino of Thessalonica
St Fergus of Downpatrick
St Irene of Rome
Bl Joachim of Fiore
St John Climacus (c 525-606) aged 80-81

St Julio Álvarez Mendoza
St Leonard Murialdo
St Ludovico of Casoria
St Mamertinus of Auxerre
St Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy
Bl Maria Restituta Kafka
St Osburga of Coventry
St Pastor of Orléans
St Patto of Werden
St Peter Regulatus
St Quirinus the Jailer
St Regulus of Scotland
St Regulus of Senlis
St Secundus of Asti
St Tola
St Zozimus of Syracuse

Martyrs of Constantinople: ourth-century Christians who were exiled, branded on the forehead, imprisoned, tortured, impoverished and murdered during the multi-year persecutions of the Arian Emperor Constantius. They were martyred
between 351 and 359 in Constantinople.

Martyrs of Korea:
Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy
Iosephus Chang Chu-gi
Lucas Hwang Sok-tu
Martin-Luc Huin
Pierre Aumaître

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, SPEAKING of .....

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – Speaking of: Seeking Repentance with the Fathers

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – Tuesday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time, B – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Speaking of:  Seeking Repentance with the Fathers

“When once you have departed this life,
there is no longer any place for repentance,
no way of making satisfaction.
Here, life is either lost or kept.
Here, by the worship of God and by the fruit of faith,
provision is made for eternal salvation.
Let no one be kept back either by his sins
or by his years from coming to obtain salvation.
To him who still remains in this world,
there is no repentance that is too late.”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)

Father of the Churchwhen once you have departed - st cyprian - speaking of seeking repentance - 17 july 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.”do-you-fast-st-john-chrysostom-17 july-2018

“If repentance is neglected for an instant,
one can lose the power of the Resurrection
as he lives with the weakness of tepidity
and the potential of his fall.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)

Father and Doctor of the Churchif repentance is neglected - st john chrysostom - 17 july 2018 - speaking of seeking repentance

“Reform yourself and so be always ready.
Be not afraid of the last day, as a thief,
who will break up your house as you sleep
but awake and reform yourself today.”reform-yourself-st-augustine-29-jan-2018

“In failing to confess, Lord,
I would only hide You from myself,
not myself from You.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of the Churchin-failing-to-confess-lord-st-augustine-13-march-2018

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

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)

Father & Doctor of the Churchto-do-penance-st-pope-gregory-the-great-29-jan-2018

“Repentance raises the fallen,
mourning knocks at the gate of Heaven
and holy humility opens it.”repentance raises the fallen - st john climacus - 17 july 2018 - speaking of repentance

“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.”repentance is the renewal of baptism - st john climacus - 29 jan 2019

“Confession is like a bridle that keeps the soul
which reflects on it from committing sin
but anything left unconfessed
we continue to do without fear as if in the dark.”

St John Climacus (579-649) Father of the Churchconfession-is-like-a-bridle-st-john-climacus-13-march-2018

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, SPEAKING of .....

Quote/s of the Day – 13 March “Speaking of Confession”

Quote/s of the Day – 13 March – “Speaking of Confession”

“In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You.”

St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Churchin failing to confess lord - st augustine - 13 march 2018

“Confession is like a bridle that keeps the soul which reflects on it from committing sin but anything left unconfessed we continue to do without fear as if in the dark.”

St John Climacus (579-649)confession is like a bridle - st john climacus - 13 march 2018

“Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.”

St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)confession is an act of courage - st john paul - 13 march 2018

“Each one must confess his sin so that God’s forgiveness, already granted on the Cross, may have an effect in his heart and in his life.

St Augustine writes further: “God accuses your sins and if you also accuse them, you are united to God…. When your own deeds will begin to displease you, from that time your good works begin, as you find fault with your evil works.   The confession of evil works is the beginning of good works” (ibid., 13: PL 35, 1191).

Sometimes men and women prefer the darkness to the light because they are attached to their sins.   Nevertheless it is only by opening oneself to the light and only by sincerely confessing one’s sins to God that one finds true peace and true joy.   It is therefore important to receive the Sacrament of Penance regularly, especially during Lent, in order to receive the Lord’s forgiveness and to intensify our process of conversion.”

Pope Benedict – Angelus Address, 18 March 2012each one must confess his sin = pope benedict - 13 march 2018

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 FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – 28 September

Quote/s of the Day – 28 September

“Repentance raises the fallen,
mourning knocks at the gate of Heaven
and holy humility opens it.”repentance raises the fallen - st john climacus - 28 sept st wenceslaus memorial

“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 and 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 – “The Ladder of Divine Ascent”repentance is - st john climacus on the memorial of st wenceslaus - 28 sept 2017