Tag: stjohnXXIII

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Quote/s of the Day – 19 June –

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Quote/s of the Day – 19 June – Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests and the Memorial of Bl Maria Rosa Flesch FSMA (1826-1906)

“We, Christians,
are the true Israel which springs from Christ,
for we are carved out of His Heart,
as from a Rock!”

St Justin Martyr (100-165)
Father of the Church and Martyr

we-christians-are-the-true-israel-st-justin-martyr-28-june-2019-sacrd-heart05 and 19 june 2020

Looking forward to never-ending communion,
St Gertrude ended her earthly life on 17 November 1301 or 1302,
at the age of about 46.
In the seventh Exercise, that of preparation for death, St Gertrude wrote:

“O Jesus, You who are immensely dear to me,
be with me always,
so that my heart may stay with You
and that Your love may endure with me, 
with no possibility of division
and bless my passing,
so that my spirit,
freed from the bonds of the flesh,
may immediately find rest in you.
Amen”

St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

prayer to the sacred heart for our death - st gertrude the great 19 june 2020 sacred heart

“If the Jewish High priest carried the names
of the twelve tribes of Israel
written on his shoulders and on his breast,
how much more Christ, our High Priest,
carries our names
written on His Heart”

St John of Avila (1500-1569)
Doctor of the Church

if-the-jewish-high-priests-st-john-of-avila-28-june-2019-sacred-heart and 19 june 2020

“Do everything
out of love for God,
for God,
with God,
to get to God.”

Bl Maria Rosa Flesch FSMA (1826-1906)

do everything out opf love for god, for god, with god, to get to god - blmaria rosa flesch 19 june 2020 sacred heart

“The priesthood
is the love
of the heart of Jesus”

St John Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)
Patron of Priests

the-priesthood-is-the-love-st-john-vianney-28-june-2019-sacred-heart and 19 june 2020

“Ah! Beside You I am not afraid of anything!
I snuggle up against You and,
like the lost sheep,
hear the beating of Your Heart.
Jesus, yet again I am Yours,
Yours forever.
With You, I am truly great,
without You, nothing but a weak reed. 
Upheld by You,
I am a pillar!”

St John XXIII (1881-1963)

Journal of a soul, 1901-1903

ah beside you i am not afraid - st john XXIII 19 june 2020 sacred heart

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Sunday Reflection – 14 June – Sacrament of Love

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Sunday Reflection – 14 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Corpus Christi, The Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16, Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, John 6:51-58corpus christi lovely

Moments with St John XXIII (1881-1963)
Sacrament of Love

When the Christians of the first centuries met around the Table of the Eucharist, they prayed with hearts full of love and longing:

“To You, O Lord, be glory forever!
As this Bread we have broken together,
was once scattered in ears of corn on the hills
and became one, when it was harvested,
so let Your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth into Your Kingdom.
For Yours is the glory and the power,
through Jesus Christ, forever.”

The doctrine of the Mystical Body, has cast gleams of shining light on this question of the union of Christians with Christ and, for their union with each other.
It has resulted in an amazing understanding of the union of the masses of the faithful, through the power of the Body and Blood of Christ, drawn together to scale the heights of Christian perfection.

In the light of this teaching, we find the truest conception of human, and Catholic brotherhood, inspired and renewed by the Holy Eucharist.

O Sacrament of love, may You always remain inviolate at the summit of Catholic doctrine and devotion!
Open our minds to soaring flights of thought and our hearts to the impulses of charity.
Lead us onto the fulfilment of the supreme ideals of justice and social peace.
AmenCorpus Christi Procession (Doepler)

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE “PANGE LINGUA”
but still using the tune in the Gregorian Chant, Mode III

page lingua hail our saviours glorious body - corpus christi 14 june 2020

Hail Our Saviour’s Glorious Body
By St Thomas Aquinas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor angelicus/Doctor communis
Translated by Fr James Quinn SJ (1919-2010)

Hail our Saviour’s glorious Body,
which His Virgin Mother bore.
Hail the blood which bled for sinners,
did a broken world restore.
Hail the sacrament most holy,
flesh and blood of Christ adore!

To the Virgin, for our healing,
His own Son, the Father sends.
From the Father’s love proceeding
sower, seed and word descends;
wondrous life of Word Incarnate
with His greatest wonder ends.

On that paschal evening see Him
with the chosen twelve recline,
to the old law still obedient
in its feast of love divine,
love divine, the new law giving,
gives Himself as bread and wine.

By His word the Word Almighty
makes of bread His flesh indeed,
wine becomes His very lifeblood,
faith God’s living Word must heed!
Faith alone might simply guide us
where the senses cannot lead.

When the Procession reaches the place of Benediction, the priest sets the Monstrance down. Then he puts incense in the thurible and, kneeling, incenses the Blessed Sacrament, while Tantum ergo Sacramentum is sung.

Come, adore this wondrous presence,
bow to Christ, the source of grace!
Here is kept the ancient promise
of God’s earthly dwelling place!
Sight is blind before God’s glory,
faith alone may see His face!

Glory be to God the Father,
praise to His co-equal Son,
Adoration to the Spirit,
bond of love, in God-head one!
Blest be God by all creation
joyously while ages run!

(Fr James Quinn SJ (21 April 1919 – 8 April 2010) was a Scottish Jesuit Priest, Theologian and Hymnist.

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, To JESUS through MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 31 May – Look to Mary

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Thoughts of Mary – 31 May – “Mary’s Month”

In the last General Audience, held by St Pope John in the Vatican Basilica (15 May 1963) before his death. He exhorted us to:

Look to Mary
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“Is it possible for a Christian not to love the holy Mother of Jesus, whom He has regarded with affection since His childhood, to whom He prayed with the first words He ever uttered and to whom He has trustfully turned for help in the difficult moments of His life?
All find in her and for her, a tender expression of confidence and gentleness – this is a great comfort to us, a great comfort at all times.

In this month of May, good Christians, increase a hundredfold, their tributes of profound veneration for Mary ….

We must cherish in our hearts, a fervour that will strengthen us and enable us, to look to Jesus and to Our Lady with great confidence, so that we may not only await but, hasten the triumph of the Lord’s charity and grace, by our enthusiasm and virtuous living and through our apostolate.
This fervour, must promote brotherly love and induce us to reject all motives for division among us.
We must be impelled, in short, to love all that unites us, because the Lord came to redeem the whole world and He is always continuing His work of salvation, mercy and peace.”

look to mary - st john XXIII 31 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 30 May – The Bible of the Poor

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Thoughts of Mary – 30 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Bible of the Poor
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“When our forefathers built their churches, they adorned them with sacred imagery, paintings or stained glass illustrating the mysteries of the life of Jesus and Mary.
It was like having a Gospel open for everyone to read, easily understood by all and rightly called, “the Bible of the Poor.”

This is just what the Rosary of Mary has been to us for seven hundred years, a joy to our eyes and hearts in the contemplation, in so many images, of the chief episodes in the life and mission of Jesus and of Mary – of Jesus, the Son of God, our Redeemer, of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother too.
It is a prayer that rises from our lips and our innermost hearts, begging for the divine gifts that may satisfy the needs of individuals and of the whole Church.

What a great and mysterious thing is human life too, Christian life! a sequence and interwoven pattern of it’s own joys, sorrows and triumphs.
Is this not so, my brothers?
And so, in the Rosary, we combine the little bibles of our lives with the Great and True Mysteries of the bible of the lives of our souls! Amen.”

the rosary the bible of the poor - st john XXIII 30 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 29 May – Mary’s Visit to Her Cousin, Elizabeth

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Thoughts of Mary – 20 May – “Mary’s Month”

Mary’s Visit to Her Cousin, Elizabeth
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“What gentleness and charm in this three months’ visit made by Mary to her beloved cousin!
Each of them is about to bear a child but, for the Virgin Mother, this is the most sacred maternity that it is possible to imagine on earth.
Their two souls mingle and respond in a sweet harmony:  “Blessed are you among women” (Lk 1:42), on the one hand and, on the other, “God, my Saviour, has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48).

What takes place here, at Ain-Karim on the hill of Hebron, sheds a light, both very human and divine, on the relations that bind Christian families, brought up in the ancient tradition of the Holy Rosary – the Rosary recited every evening at home, in the family circle, the Rosary recited not just in or or a hundred or a thousand families but by every family, by everyone, everywhere in the world, wherever the is one of us “Suffering, fighting and praying” (A Manzoni, La Pentecost v 6) someone who has answered a call to the Priesthood or to Missionary service or to a dream which will turn out to be an apostolate, or wherever men are constrained by those legitimate, if obligatory demands of labour or trade, military service, study, teaching or any other occupation.

There is a beautiful reunion, during the ten Hail Marys of the Mystery, of so many countless souls, linked together by blood or by domestic ties, in a relationship which hallows and, thereby strengthens, the love that binds our dearest ones together – parents and children, brothers and relations, people from the same locality, people of the same race.
All this, with the purpose and intention of sustaining, increasing and irradiating that universal charity, the exercise of which, is the most profound joy and supreme honour, of our lives.”

What gentleness and charm - st john XXIII mary's visit to Elizabeth

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Thoughts of Mary – 28 May – The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

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Thoughts of Mary – 28 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

the mystery of the assumption St John XXIII 28 may 2020

“The queenly figure of Mary is illuminated and glorified in the highest dignity which a creature may attain.
What grace, sweetness and solemnity in the scene of Mary’s “falling asleep,” as the Christians of the East imagine it!
She is lying in the serene sleep of death, Jesus stands beside her and clasps her soul, as if it were a tiny child, to His Heart, to indicate the miracle of her immediate resurrection and glorification.

The Christians of the West, raising their eyes and hearts to heaven, choose to portray Mary borne body and soul to the eternal Kingdom.
The greatest artist saw her thus, incomparable in her divine beauty.
Oh let us too go with her, borne aloft by her escort of angels!
This is the source of consolation and faith, in days of grief or pain, for those privileged souls – such as we can all become, if only we respond to grace – whom God is silently preparing for the most beautiful victory of all, the attainment of holiness.

The mystery of the Assumption, brings home to us the thought of death, of our own death and gives us a sense of serene confidence;  it makes us understand and welcome the thought, that the Lord will be, as we wish Him to be, near us in our last agony, to gather into His own Hands, our immortal soul.

“May your grace be always with us, Immaculate Virgin.”

Posted in Hail MARY!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The ANNUNCIATION

Thoughts of Mary – 27 May – The Annunciation

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Thoughts of Mary – 27 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Annunciation
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

this is the first shining point of union between heaven and earth - st john XXIII the annunciation 27 may 2020

“This is the first shining point of union between heaven and earth – the first of those events which were to be the greatest of all time.
The Son of God, Word of the Father, “without whom was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3), in the order of creation, in this mystery takes on human nature and becomes a man, in order to save and redeem all men, all mankind.

When Mary Immaculate, the finest and most fragrant flower of all creation, said in answer to the angel’s greeting:  “Behold the handmaid of the Lord” (Luke 1:38), she accepted the honour of divine motherhood, which was, in that moment, realised within her.
And we, born once in our father Adam, formerly the adopted sons of God but fallen from that high estate, are now once more brothers, adopted sons of the Father, restored to His adoption by the redemption which was already begun.
At the foot of the Cross, we shall all be children of Mary, with that same Jesus, whom she has conceived on that day.
From that day onwards, she will be Mother of God (Mater Dei) and our Mother (Mater Nostra) too.

What sublimity, what tender love is this first mystery!

When we reflect on this, we see that our chief and constant duty is, to thank the Lord who deigned to come to save us and for this purpose, made Himself man, our brother man;  He has joined us by becoming the Son of a woman and by making us, at the foot of the Cross, the adopted sons of this woman.   He wanted us, who were the adopted sons of His Heavenly Father, to be the sons of His own Mother.

Let the intention of our prayer, as we contemplate this first picture offered to our thoughts, be, besides a constant feeling of gratitude, a real and sincere effort to acquire humility, purity and ardent love for the Blessed Virgin, who provides the most precious example of all these virtues.”

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Thoughts of Mary – 26 May – Mary, Mother and Queen

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Thoughts of Mary – 26 May – “Mary’s Month”

Mary, Mother and Queen
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“We crown you, together with your divine Son, O Mother, we crown you as our Queen and may the golden crown that encircles your brow, glow as a sign of the highest holiness to which a human creature may rise, as an “ornament of honour that surpasses all other dignity and merit in the Church, both militant and triumphant and, finally, as a symbol of your most powerful intercession with your Son, for our needs.   These are the individual needs of everyone of us and of our families…”

The crown is of purest gold, like the hearts of your children who offer it to you:  ” … a crown of gold upon her head.”

We beg you for two special graces – peace of mind and the spirit of peace in our families, in our parishes and in this Diocese, which loves and honour you, peace in our own blessed land and in all her endeavours to achieve the loftiest ideals of human and social life in the light of the Gospel and in faithfulness to the teaching of the apostles, today, yesterday and always, the shining beacon of truth, justice and true Christian brother hood.

Ah, my brothers!   I speak of true Christian brotherhood and, after peace, this is the second grace for which I intend to pray and for which, I ask you all to pray to Jesus …. under the auspices and with the help of the prayers of our newly crowned Queen.”mary our queen and mother - st john XXIII 26 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 25 May – Queen of the World

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Thoughts of Mary – 25 May – “Mary’s Month”

Queen of the World
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“An eloquent passage written by St Peter Canisius, as a commentary on the Gospel of St Luke, contains these admirable reflections: “Oh blessed day that saw the humble Handmaid of the Lord raised and borne aloft to such great glory, made Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the world! She could rise no higher than this, being destined to reign in glory by the side of Christ, enthroned in the Kingdom of the blessed.”

…. This is one of the characteristic conceptions of the Christian faith.
When we think of the Mother, we know we are all brothers of the Son;  we know that the Spirit, the divinity of our Brother, passes mysteriously into us and enables us to understand these hidden and wonderful truths, with the help of the sublime and magnificent indications of the sacred liturgy.

We must, therefore, try in every way we can, to foster these feelings in ourselves and make them more profound, ever adding new warmth to our love for Mary.
This helps us to love our Lord Jesus Christ, the beginning, the continuation and the end of all and, also, to love His Gospel and His Church.

Everything must always be placed in the light of this supernatural doctrine and under the protection of the Mother of God, who, having risen to eternal glory, has not withdrawn herself from us and does not lose sight of us.
She is always willing and anxious to listen to our prayers and receive the trustful petitions we offer to her, with profound humility, so that she may present them to her Son.”

she is always willing and anxious to listen to our prayers - st john XXIII - queen of the world 25 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 24 May – The Light Comes from the Altar

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Thoughts of Mary – 24 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Light Comes from the Altar
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“When He ascended into Heaven, the majestic flow of the Blood of Jesus did not cease on this earth;  it still flows in a ever-widening stream through untold centuries of grace – the vision which began with the Immaculate Conception, ends in the Blessed Sacrament!

In this way, one mystery corresponds to the other, the one illuminates, completes and confirms the other.
From the Eucharist, back to the Passion, from the Passion to the public life and, further back, to the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth, from this hidden life to His Birth – from far beyond the Annunciation to the heights of the [Immaculate] Conception and back to us again – it is a continual rising re-descending, unutterable, divine.
Because of this, we see Mary Immaculate present at every Mass and in every Communion.
The light of the Immaculate which streams upon us comes from the Altar, from the Tabernacle and, in the same way, when we draw near to the Altar and the Tabernacle, it is almost as if we hear Mary’s voice inviting us:  “Eat, O friends and drink, drink deeply, O lovers” (Song 5:1).

This, my brothers, is the doctrine.
On this foundation is built the reality, the great and thrilling reality which re-assumes so fully, in all ages, the best Christian piety of the whole world.

In fact, when persecution rages, the Christians draw strength to resist and to extend their conquering apostolate and, if need be, even to die, from the Bread of the strong, from the inebriating Chalice offered over the tombs of martyrs in our ancient cemeteries, under the kind eyes of Mary, whose roughly drawn images smiles among the symbols and ornaments of primitive Christian art.”from the eucharist back to the passion - the light comes from the altar st john XXIII 24 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 23 May – Our Striving After Perfection With Our Mother’s Help

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Thoughts of Mary – 23 May – “Mary’s Month”

Our Striving After Perfection With Our Mother’s Help
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“To have a special devotion to Mary, means, that we are trying to perfect our own spiritual lives, in imitation of our heavenly Mother and with the help of her grace.
In this effort, which we must all make, we must strive to obtain purity and be constant in our search for what is best and in our endeavour to improve our conduct.
We must find the sure and decisive way of attaining the bright goal of our desires, with the sure hope of finally sharing, with Mary, in the joy of Jesus Christ, the fountain of eternal life.

We turn to you, O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother too.
How could we, with trembling hearts, concern ourselves with the greatest problem of all, that of life and death, now overshadowing all mankind, without trusting ourselves to your intercession to preserve us from all dangers?

This is your hour, O Mary, Our Blessed Jesus entrusted us to you in the final hour of His bloody Sacrifice.
We are sure that you will intervene.

And now, indeed, we beseech you for peace, O most sweet Mother and Queen of the world.
The world does not need victorious wars or defeated peoples but renewed and strengthened health of mind and peace, which brings prosperity and tranquillity;  this is what it needs and what it is crying out for – the beginning of salvation and lasting peace. Amen, Amen.”we turn to you o blessed virgin mary - st john XXIII 23 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 22 May – Our Love For Mary

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Thoughts of Mary – 22 May – “Mary’s Month”

Our Love For Mary
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

All the world knows the Gospel story of the Lord’s last testament in which, at the supreme moment of death, He left His mother to the world, as the universal Mother of all who believe in Him, follow His commandments and form His Church, one, holy, Catholic and apostolic.
He, John, who is the witness and heir of this testament, takes care to add, that from that moment “the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27).

This welcoming of the Mother of Jesus as our Mother, is characteristic of the moving and glorious history of the Church’s continual devotion to Mary.
Ever Altar, every Chapel, every Church built in honour of the Mother of God, anywhere in the world, testifies to the historic fidelity of the Church’s children to the example of the beloved disciple.

Holy Immaculate Mary,
help of all who are in trouble.
Give courage to the faint-hearted,
console the sad,
heal the infirm,
pray for the people,
intercede for the clergy,
have a special care for nuns.
May all feel,
all enjoy your kind
and powerful assistance,
all who now and always,
render and will render you honour
and will offer you their petitions …
Hear all our prayers, O Mother
and grant them all.
We are all your children –
‘Grant the prayers of your children.’
Amen forever and ever!

holy immaculate mary - our love for may st john XXIII 22 may 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 21 May – The Source of Comfort

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Thoughts of Mary – 21 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Source of Comfort
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

Motives for melancholy are never in short supply – and when were they ever lacking in the history of the world? – because of the inexorable alternation in human life of sadness and joy.
Sometimes, these mix and merge together and when that happens, we would try in vain to separate them.

A wise man, a wise Christian, must do all he can to free himself from sad thoughts and, at all times, have recourse to those sources of comfort, which transform suffering into motives of love, of merit, of present and eternal joy.

The Mother of Jesus, who is our Mother too – oh how I love to associate these two titles! – is one of the richest sources of our consolation, the richest after Jesus, who is, of His very nature, Light and Life! – she, is rich in comfort and joy and encouragement, for all the children of Eve, who have become her own children through the redemptive sacrifice and will of Christ.

This explains, the whole world’s devotion to the Virgin, whom her saintly cousin, Elizabeth, truly hailed as “Blessed,” in reply to Mary’s confession of humility in the Magnificat, which remains the everlasting canticle of mankind redeemed, the song of the past, present ad future.the mother of jesus - source of consolation - st john XXIII 21 may 2020

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Thoughts of Mary – 20 May – Hail Mary! Our Prayer of Love and Protection

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Thoughts of Mary – 20 May – “Mary’s Month”

Our Prayer of Love and Protection
Hail Mary!

hail mary - st john XXIII - 20 may 2020

“For all of us, Mary is guide, refuge and strength.
Turning to her, we have all found comfort and, on the last day of our earthly life, which is also the first day of eternity – it is good for us to think of this frequently – it will be an infinitely precious consolation to be able to turn to such a gracious Mother and feel her near us, in that grave hour.
With what intensity of love we shall say our last “Hail Mary,” in which will be gathered up, the fervour of all the others we have said throughout our earthly life and which will be the finest greeting for us to utter as we go to meet Our Lord.

The devotion to Mary is a valid and unfailing support for all believers;  it is a pledge of inward peace and inspires a firm determination to do our duty.
This truth must be carefully impressed upon young people, especially on those just beginning a new chapter in their lives.
This is the right time to remind them of the good instructions they have received and of their daily prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all – so that they may behave in a manner worthy of their early training.”

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, MARY, MATER ECCLESIAE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 19 May – Mother of the Church

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Thoughts of Mary – 19 May – “Mary’s Month”

Mother of the Church
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“Mary is with us, among us, she protects and helps us, she leads us along a sure road.
More than once the Pope has heard the wistful cry of some souls – among those brothers of ours who, since the beginning of the sixteenth century, have been cut off from the unity of the Church – who exclaim with profound sadness:  is it possible not to love one’s own mother?
And, yet, some of them have managed to forget her altogether, or at least to keep her at a distance … alas! in certain families, in which the mother, when advanced in years, is borne with, as a burden, instead of still being cherished with loving care.

We, however, by the grace of God, honour Mary as Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Catholic Church.
She, not only receives the homage of an exquisite art, which testifies to her in every place but the ever fervent, beautiful and profound veneration felt for one who never, for a moment, fails in her motherly care.

Let us always share in the sorrows of Mary, when we see her beside the Cross of Jesus.
Let us pour out our hearts to her in the saddest moments of our life, remembering the first announcement of God’s angel made to the most holy Virgin:  “The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary and she conceived by the Holy Ghost,” which is like a synthesis of the whole story of the Incarnation of the Word and the Redemption brought by the Son of God, the glory, which, here below, is the beginning of the eternal glory of Paradise.”

mary other of the church st john XXIII 19 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Thoughts of Mary – 18 May – Mother of God

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Thoughts of Mary – 18 May – “Mary’s Month”

Mother of God
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“My thoughts turn once more the words of the humble daughter of Israel who still speaks for our own hearts and lips, words which we repeat with enthusiasm to the blessed Mother of Jesus, who is our own Mother too – “Beata, beata viscera Mariae Virginis quae portaverunt, AEtern Patris Fillium!” “O blessed indeed the womb that bore you!
And, I place my confident trust in the reply of Jesus, which is the renewed assurance for you, children of the Catholic Church, that we may find here below on earth, a a pledge of our eternal happiness in heaven, prosperity, joy and peace, in proportion to our unconquerable fidelity to the teaching of the divine Word, always better understood and better guarded:  “Blessed rather, are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
O Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother too!
We hail you with this cry that all generations of men repeat, contemplating the mysteries of your life and the splendour of your Assumption.
Once more, we hail you as blessed, beata – intercede for us, O glorious Queen of the world and be ever mindful of us, particularly in the dangers and needs of this present hour!
O Jesus, Son of Mary, our Brother and our Saviour, by the mystery of the body and blood which you deigned to assume from the Virgin’s pure womb and which we today renew on our Altar, preserve for us, the gift of faith for the salvation of our souls, for the prosperity and greatness of our people and for the glory of Your name, which will be, at the same time, our glory and our joy, in this present life and in eternity, amen.”

once more we hail you as blessed beata mothr of god - st john XXIII 18 may 2020

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY MASS, To JESUS through MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 17 May – Mother of the Eucharist

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Thoughts of Mary – 17 May – “Mary’s Month”

Mother of the Eucharist
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“The Christian heart understands certain harmonies at once, in a surprising and miraculous way and this mystery which fuses together the dearest objects of Catholic devotion, the Eucharist and Our Lady, is one of the most consoling and delightful harmonies of our faith.
It is a doctrine and it is a fact …. I open the Old Testament and find the Song of Songs which presents me with two most beautiful comparisons (cf Song of Solomon 2:2-3) – “As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens.”
Can we not all see here, in the delicate image of the lily, Mary the Immaculate, beautiful and resplendent?
In the same passage I find:  “As an apple tree among the trees of the wild forest, so is my beloved among young men.”
What is this tree, laden with fruit, which resembles the beloved?
This apple tree that grows among the trees of the wild forest, the fruit of which is wholesome and sweet to the taste?
Obviously, it is Jesus – the fruit of the tree is the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.
Oh, what a wonderfully apt association of images!
The lily and the tree – Mary and the Eucharist!
The Church is compared to a lovely garden, “a garden locked.”
In it, the fountains play and herbs and fruits make it pleasant and perfumed like a garden of Paradise.
And see! beside the fountain blooms the lily, near at hand is the tree.
The faithful soul seeks for himself a place between the fragrant lily and the fruit-laden tree, between Mary and the Holy Sacrament and lingers with great delight in the shade of the tree.  “I sat in his shadow….”
O Mary, pure lily, tender and delicate flower!
O Holy Sacrament!
O mysterious tree, truly the most beautiful of all the trees in the wild forest, because you are the Christ!”

o mary pure lily 2 17 may 2020 st john XXIII

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, Uncategorized

Thoughts of Mary – 16 May – Fountain of Life

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Thoughts of Mary – 16 May – “Mary’s Month”

Fountain of Life
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“There is a passage from the pen of a distinguished English writer on religious subjects (F W Faber, The Blessed Sacrament 1855), which is so wonderful that I am sorry that I can do no more than briefly trace the main line of his thought.
The Immaculate Virgin is with us.
We still enjoy hearing our fathers describe the delight felt by the whole Catholic world in the middle of the last century, when the ancient doctrine of Mary having been preserved from all taint of original sin, was defined as Dogma.
That doctrine is like the mountain spring, purer than the waters of Sion, from which flow all the other mysteries of the Incarnation.
The whole Church gathers around this source to gaze at it’s reflection in the clear deep waters.
Kneeling on the bank is the supreme Pontiff, the teachers who thirst for the truth, hasten to drink from the spring.
Mitred and crowned heads and humble children of the people, the poor and afflicted of all classes, a whole multitude of pious folk, stoop down, drink and rise again – sight is restored, Mary shines more brightly than before.
Look well, my brothers, at those waters.
They are the elements of the Precious Blood of Jesus.
They flow mysteriously in the sanctified breast of Anna, they appear again, transfigured into the blood of Mary, the fair child, the maiden of fifteen years, the Bride of the Holy Spirit.
Through the power of the Spirit that overshadows her, this blood gathers into itself, the elements of the Sacred Humanity of Christ.
Behold the Spring and then the Blood!
Oh, what a miracle occurs!
The Blood is already beating in the Sacred Heart, it crimsons the cheeks of the Divine Child – it is sweated out from every pore of Jesus, in His Passion.”behold the spring and then the blood - st john XXIII 16 may 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The ANNUNCIATION

Thoughts of Mary – 15 May – The Angelus

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Thoughts of Mary – 15 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Angelus
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“It is the custom in Catholic countries for the bells to ring the Angelus at dawn … “The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.”
This peal of bells, after the darkness of the night, represents the light that returns in splendour, while the heavens bow down to meet the earth.
The angel’s greeting is answered by our prayer which recalls the wonderful truth:  “and she conceived by the Holy Ghost.”

The woman, daughter of Eve, chosen before all ages for this privilege, is called to a unique motherhood, to become, by a divine miracle, the Mother of Jesus.
How our hearts throb with joy as we repeat together, a prayer in which Mary is invoked as our Mother too! …

These are simple and familiar words – but it is good to meditate on all they stand for, in recollection and peace of mind.

The Son of God has become the Son of Mary, our brother and has lived among us – and we know well what this means for us.
First of all thirty years of silence, work and obedience.
Then three years of the apostolate, teaching, miracles, all-conquering light.
Then the hour of humiliation and sacrifice, but, in the end the triumph!”

the angelus st john XXIII 15 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MARY'S MONTH, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY MASS

Thoughts of Mary – 14 May – Praying With Our Mother

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Thoughts of Mary – 14 May – “Mary’s Month”

Praying With Our Mother
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“My dear brothers in Christ and in the love of Mary!
The Sacred Altar is the meeting point, of all, that is for the Christian and the Catholic, a vision of heavenly doctrine, inspired by divine grace, the inexhaustible source of strength, holiness and joy in our life here below, in the certainty of the eternal life to come.

Follow Me then to this Blessed Altar of My Sacrifice, which is the Sacrifice offered for you and with you, for all that is dearest to you in the innermost sanctuary of your souls and in your family life and in the various relationships of your civil and social activity.

The land where we were born, which is so dear to us, is always, even when resplendent with natural beauty, full of thorns and of things which cause us distress and pain.

True comfort is found, only in union with the Cross of Christ and His sufferings, united with the sorrows of His Mother, who is our Mother too.

Oh, how beautiful is and how consoling, to believe, live and pray with our Mother, sharing in her love with her Son, the Word of God, made man for us, as a sign of blessing, prosperity and peace amid the uncertainties of this present life, in the certain hope of the eternal joys which await us. Amen.

true comfort is found, only in union with the cross of christ - st john XXIII 14 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 13 May – Behold Your Mother

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Thoughts of Mary – 13 May – “Mary’s Month”

Behold Your Mother
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“Shortly before His death, Jesus, seeing His Mother with the beloved disciple by her side, said to Mary, indicating John:  “Behold your son.”
Then He said to His disciple:  “Behold our Mother.”

As if enraptured by the infinite generosity of God, St Robert Bellarmine asserts, that whoever draws near to the most high God with a frank and open heart may obtain grace and salvation.   In fact, Jesus, who wanted us to be co-heirs with Himself of His Father’s Kingdom, invites us too, to share in the kindness of His perfect Mother and, she herself loves to carry on her work of mercy and solicitude for all who are working their way to their home with her Son.

“Let us then,” says Bellarmine, “hasten with confidence to Christ’s throne of grace and with prayers and profound contrition, let us beg Him to repeat for everyone of us, the words He said His Mother:  “Behold your son.”
In the same way, as He looks at Mary, may He repeat to everyone of us, the wonderful invitation:  “Behold your Mother.”

In short, here we find our true relationship, already established on earth, with Jesus our Redeemer and our brother and our relationship with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and of all who belong to the to those He has wished to redeem.
It is, therefore, a glory of Catholic worship and of the Christian Doctrine, which always presents the Lord Jesus to us with His Mother by His side.

How eternally happy are those faithful, who invoke the heavenly Queen by the sweet name of Mother and faithfully follow her counsel, her inspiration and her example!”shortly before his death - st john XXIII 13 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, The HOLY MASS, To JESUS through MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 12 May – To Jesus Through Mary

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Thoughts of Mary – 12 May – “Mary’s Month”

To Jesus Through Mary
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

The simple words of the first page of Matthew’s Gospel:  “Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Mt 1:16) suffice for me, to establish the fundamental principle of all the great theological teaching which illustrates the connection between the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady.

Christian piety has rejoiced to learn from the Book of Acts, that Mary was present at the first gatherings of the faithful, when they broke read together as brothers and spent long hours in prayer.
And modern art has often portrayed the heavenly Mother in the act of receiving, from the hand of St John, the beloved apostle, the Communion of the Body and Blood of her Son.
But all this is superfluous and unnecessary for our convinced belief.

When we say, that in the Eucharist, we have the Son and in Mary, we have His Mother, have we not said all?
The great genius of Hippo, St Augustine, with his eagle-eyed power of vision, found the words which so brilliantly contain the Doctrine – Ave corpo vero, nato de Maria Virgine – Hail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary!

In this way – a delightful thing to say, a sublime thing to contemplate – the terms of this twofold mystery are merged into one, so that Mary appears to us radiant in the light of the Eucharistic mystery;  they are merged and yet they are the two extreme points, between which is evolved and developed, the whole Catholic Dogma of the Incarnation and of the continuing life of the Church.

when we say that inthe eucharist we have the son - to jesus through mary - st john XXIII 12 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUEENSHIP of MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 10 May – Our Mother

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Thoughts of Mary – 10 May – “Mary’s Month”

Our Mother
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“In this earthly life of ours, in the exercise of our individual and collective freedom, in mutual respect and in the common striving for charity and brotherliness – in all these things which make up our earthly life, that shines in the light of God, the light of truth and love – we have as our loving and guiding star, Mary the Mother of Jesus Christ, whom He, when about to die, left to us to be our Mother and whom we love with such warmth of filial affection, that we wish to glorify her as our Queen.

But, there must be no confusion of ideas.
Christ Jesus is King, by His very nature.
He is seated upon the throne, because He, is Himself, the Lord, the Holy One, the Most High.
That is why He is enthroned.
But we like to think of His Mother and ours, as standing beside Him, in her golden robe, surrounded by a great throng, as Psalm 44 (45) described her centuries before her birth: “At your right hand, stands the Queen, with her virgin companions, her escort, in her train.”

O Queen of the Universe, remain forever with us ….
All our voices will mingle with the voice of the Holy Father and those of the whole Catholic world: “Hear us, O Mary, O Mother and Queen, we pray to you, O sweet, O merciful, O loving, Immaculate Virgin Mary.” Amenhear us o mary o mother and queen - st john XXIII 10 may 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The INCARNATION

Thoughts of Mary – 9 May – “Show You are Our Mother”

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Thoughts of Mary – 9 May – “Mary’s Month”

“Show You are Our Mother”
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

in her heaven and earth were joined - st john XXIII 9 may 2020

“The glorification of Mary, as it shines in the gentle radiance of this month’s celebrations, is simply a reminder of her mission, of all God’s purpose in her.

It is a mission of mercy and salvation, which springs from her other supreme privilege, divine motherhood.
God’s purpose is one of forgiveness and reconciliation, because the Heavenly Father, when He sent His Son to redeem the world, chose Mary as His first collaborator in His plan for our redemption.
In her, heaven and earth were joined and through her, the Divine Saviour was offered to mankind.

What harmonies of piety and love are awakened by the hymn Salve Regina, one of the oldest and dearest of all canticles, which sings with trustful longing, of this motherly role of Mary!
From beginning to end, this prayer – “Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,” is the lyrical cry of all, who, disturbed by sin and subject to tears, pain and death, still look to her, as their “life, sweetness and hope.”
To her, they address their imploring prayer, a supreme expression of shining and unconquerable faith:  “Show unto us Jesus, the blessed fruit of thy womb, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.”

salve regina hail holy queen 22 aug 2019

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MARY'S MONTH, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 8 May – Gate of Heaven

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Thoughts of Mary – 8 May – “Mary’s Month”

Gate of Heaven
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“The Immaculate Virgin heralds the dawn of eternal day and guides and sustains us on the long road that still stretches before us.
The liturgical hymn “Hail, Star of the Sea,” contains the loving prayer:

“Still as on we journey
Help our weak endeavour,
Till with thee and Jesus,
We rejoice forever.”

We must look forward to this final goal, the coming of the life of grace, with eager hearts and more persevering Christian fidelity.
Let us take courage, beloved children – we shall not be lost forever.
O Immaculate Virgin, you are our strength.
Immaculate Virgin, radiant image of purity and grace, whose appearance scatters the shades of overhanging night and restores to us, the splendours of Heaven, look graciously down upon your children and all who love you and gather around you. Star of the dawn, prepare us to welcome the Sun of Justice, whom you brought into the world.
Gate of Heaven, teach our hearts to desire the things of Heaven.
Mirror of Justice, preserve in us, the love of divine grace, so that, living humbly and happily in obedience to our Christian calling, we may always enjoy the Lord’s friendship and your motherly consolations.   Amen”

star of the dawn gate of heaven - st john XXIII 8 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Thoughts of Mary – 7 May – The Shining Crown

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Thoughts of Mary – 7 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Shining Crown
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“Immaculate” suggests order and beauty – the natural order, raised to a state of grace as soon as it left it’s Creator’s hands and, therefore, ever obedient to His will and His commands and the beauty which is the shining crown of this order.

But everyone of us must begin in this way – by contemplating this vision of serenity and light, God’s masterpiece, we must draw strength to rise to the heights of perfection, whether of the individual or of the family, of institutions or of Holy Church.

Everyone must try to set his own soul in perfect order, for by this is true supernatural beauty and the special gifts of individuals are then reflected and reproduced, on an ever wider scale, in order to enrich, with increasing joy and beauty, the great family of believers.

And, finally, “Immaculate” suggests the vision of heaven.
The perfect and supreme grace bestowed on Mary from the first moment of her earthly life, is granted to us also, though, to be sure, to a lesser degree and only as a pledge of future happiness – for the day when faith will be stripped of the veils which hide the vision of God and we shall see the Lord, face-to-face!  Amen.

and finally immaculate suggests the vision of heaven - st john XXIII 7 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Thoughts of Mary – 6 May – The Purple Flower of Sacrifice

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Thoughts of Mary – 6 May – “Mary’s Month”

The Immaculate Virgin – the Purple Flower of Sacrifice
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

She who was preserved from original sin through the merits of her Son the Redeemer, was granted this privilege because she was predestined for the sublime mission of being the Mother of God.
She, who was to clothe in mortal flesh, the eternal Word of the Father, could not be contaminated, even for an instant, by the shadow of sin.
So, she is immaculate through the power of Christ, because all that was granted to the Mother, was granted through her Son.
The blooming of this snow white flower on our soil, is a sure pledge of the reconciliation of mankind with God.

How apt are the words of the liturgy that we sin on the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin – “Thy nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world.”

But this joy is also a purple flower of sacrifice – the sacrifice of the Blessed Mother of Jesus who, when she gave her consent:  “Be it unto me …” accepted her share in the destines of her Son, from the poverty of Bethlehem, to the self-denials of the secluded life in Nazareth and the martyrdom of Calvary.

So we may not consider ourselves, the beloved children of Our Lord and of His Mother, if our life is without sacrifice and self-denial.

May this reference to the requirement of sacrifice, be then a loving and thoughtful reminder of the strong and solid Christian virtues of self-denial, patience and penitence.  Amen

the purple flower of sacrifice - st john XXIII 6 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES of the SAINTS, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The WORD

5 May – Thoughts of Mary – Mary Immaculate

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5 May – “Mary’s Month” – Thoughts of Mary

Mary Immaculate
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

The splendour of dawn is called immaculate, unstained.
Mary, preserved from all stain of original sin, was full of grace, from the first moment of her conception.
While she was still in her mother’s womb, the divine light had entered into her soul.
After the long night of the centuries which passed since the sin of our first fathers, this morning star arose, pure and bright, transparent and inviolate, while the sky glowed with the promise of the coming dawn.

Friendship with God, granted to Adam when he was created and so soon lost, was restored in all it’s original perfection in Mary and already, men had heard the good news of the coming of the Sun of Justice (Mal 4:2), of Him who, by giving His life, has restored friendship and union with God for men of goodwill.

The Christian soul must feel this throb of supernatural life which begins with Baptism.
We say to you, in the words of the Apostle:  “Walk as children of light (for the furit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph 5:8-11).

after the long night - imm conception - st john XXIII 5 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the FAMILY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE

“Mary’s Month” – 4 May – The Watchful Guardian of the Family

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“Mary’s Month” – 4 May – Thoughts of Mary

The Watchful Guardian of the Family
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“The family is a most precious gift.
Founded by divine decree on the differing and complementary characteristics of the husband and wife, it finds in the wife, a watchful guardian.
We beg women, therefore, to love the family, understood as the natural setting for the growth of the human personality and the God-given shelter in which the passions of life are soothed and sweetened, the stirrings of unruly desires are stilled and the influence of evil example opposed.

This sanctuary is threatened by so many insidious attacks.
Propaganda, at times unrestrained, makes use of the formidable power of the press, entertainments and of amusements, to scatter the fatal seeds of corruption, especially among our young people.
The family must defend itself and the women must play their part in this struggle, courageously, with a sense of their responsibility, never wearied of watching and correcting and teaching the difference between good and evil.
When necessary, they must avail themselves of the protection offered by the laws of the State.

The Gospel … records the words of an unknown woman …. “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that suckled you!” (Lk 11:28).
These words very rightly referred to Mary but the same might be said of all mothers, if their children, on the hard, rough ways of this life, know how to bear themselves like true Christians, in accordance with the teachings they have received.
May all mothers, turn to her, the Mother of God, as their model and guide!”may all mothers turn to her - st pope john XXIII 4 may 2020

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 2 May -The Sweet Name of Mary with Saint Pope John XXIII

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“Mary’s Month” – 2 May – Thoughts of Mary

The Sweet Name of Mary
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“We are in the month of Mary – what could be found more beautiful and more encouraging, than a visit to the altar of Mary, there to join our voices with the songs of spring, with the birds of the air, the murmur of the wind, the blossoming of nature and above all, with the chants of those innocent children of our families?
Nothing is more joyful than this vision of youth, which is the promises of a sure future and an augury and fountain of blessings, because, pure young people who have flowered in innocence, are the pledge of the Lord’s most wonderful graces.
The Pope recalls his Lenten visits to some parishes of his Diocese of Rome, in newly built areas. He knew then, that all felt in their innermost hearts, the sweetness of this meeting of Christians and welcomed the Pope’s endeavour to bring to everyone, the name of Mary and the blessing of Jesus, to describe to them and recall to their minds, the great wonders and miracles, which, by the Lord’s grace, the Catholic faith and the practice of virtue, bring into the world.
So all feel greatly comforted, even when the road is sown with thorns, we have more courage to remove these thorns and to endure them with patience, turning our mind and heart to heaven, to call on the sweet name of Mary and ask her to bring us the true inspiration from on high and the source of all blessings, Jesus our Lord.”so all feel greatly comforted - st john XXIII the sweet name of mary 3 may 2020