Posted in ARMOUR of CHRIST, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, MARTYRS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 10 July – “Sheep Amidst the Wolves”

Quote/s of the Day – 10 July – “Month of the Precious Blood” – Friday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: Hosea 14:2-10, Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-14, 17, Matthew 10:16-23

“Sheep Amidst the Wolves”

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart
but you shall reason with your neighbour,
lest you bear sin because of him.
You shall not take vengeance
or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people
but, you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord”

Leviticus 19:17-18

leviticus-19-17-18-you-shall-not-hate-your-brother-love-our-enemy-16-june-2020 and 10 july 2020

“But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you…”

Matthew 5:44

matthew-5-44-but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-16-march-2019 and 16 june 2020

“We are treated as deceivers and yet, are truthful,
as unrecognised and yet, acknowledged,
as dying and behold we live,
as chastised and yet, not put to death,
as sorrowful yet, always rejoicing,
as poor yet, enriching many,
as having nothing and yet, possessing all things.”

2 Corinthians 8-10

2-corinthians-8-10-we-are-treated-as-deceivers-and-yet-are-truthful-17-june-2019-and-15-june-2020 and 10 july 2020

“What is the surest kind of witness?
“Anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ
came among us in the flesh” (cf. 1Jn 4,2)
and who keeps the commands of the Gospel…
How many there are each day
of these hidden martyrs of Christ
who confess the Lord Jesus!
… So be faithful and courageous
in interior persecutions
so that you may also win
the victory in exterior persecutions.”

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

what-is-the-surest-kind-of-witness-st-ambrose-13-july-2019 and 27 nov 2019

“You don’t love in your enemies
what they are
but what you would have them become,
by your prayers!”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor

you-dont-love-in-your-enemies-what-they-are-but-what-you-would-have-them-become-by-your-prayers-st-augustine-18-june-2018 and 10 july 2020

“When he has begun to follow me,
according to My teaching and precepts,
he will find many people contradicting him
and standing in his way,
many who not only deride but even persecute him.
Moreover, this is true,
not only of pagans who are outside the church
but also of those, who seem to be in it visibly
but are outside of it because of the perversity of their deeds.
Although these glory,
in merely the title of Christian,
they continually persecute faithful Christians.”

St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)

when-he-has-begun-to-follow-me-st-caesarius-of-arles-21-feb-2020 and 10 july 2020

“We must show love
for those who do evil to us
and pray for them.
Nothing is dearer
or more pleasing to God than this.”

St Bridget of Sweden (c 1303-1373)

we-must-show-love-for-those-who-do-evil-to-us-st-bridget-of-sweden-16-june-2020 and 10 july 2020

“… I declare to you,
that there is no other way of salvation
than the one followed by Christians.
Since this way teaches me to forgive my enemies
and all who have offended me,
I willingly forgive the king
and all those who have desired my death.
And I pray that they will obtain
the desire of Christian Baptism.”

St Paul Miki SJ (1564-1597) Martyr

i-declare-to-you-that-there-is-no-other-way-of-salvation-st-paul-miki-16-june-2020 and 10 july 2020

“Visit me not, O my loving Lord –
if it be not wrong so to pray –
visit me not those trying visitations
which saints alone can bear!
Still, I leave all in Thy hands, my dear Saviour –
I bargain for nothing.
Only, if Thou shall bring heavier trial on me,
give me more grace –
flood me with the fullness of Thy strength and consolation,
that they may work in me,
not death but life and salvation.”

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

luke-21-9-but-not-a-hair-of-your-head-visit-me-not-loving-lord-st-john-henry-newman-27-nov-2019 and 10 july 2020

“Catholics are part of the Church Militant.
They struggle and they suffer for the triumph of Christ.
They must never lose sight of their Divine Model,
so that their trials will be turned into joy.”

St Pius X (1835-1914)

catholics are part of the church militant - st pius X 10 july 2020

“To live without faith,
without a heritage to defend,
without battling constantly for truth,
is not to live
but to ‘get along,’
we must never just ‘get along’.”

Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925)
“Man of the Beatitudes”to-live-without-faith-bl-pier-giorgio-frassati-4-july-2020 and 10 july 2020

“When I feel overwhelmed by misfortune,
the greatest joy that the Lord can give me,
is to go to the altar, to put my forehead against it
(as on the day of my ordination to the priesthood)
and to feel the presence of the only reality.
Not only does calm return
but my body seems to be annihilated,
the only true life begins,
the life of that which is intangible.”

Bl Leonid Feodorov (1879-1935) Martyr

when-i-feel-overwhelmed-by-misfortune-bl-leonid-feodorov-7-march-2019-and-27-nov-2019 and 10 july 2020

“Let us love our enemies,
bless those who curse us,
pray for Those who persecute us.
For love will conquer
and will endure for all eternity.
And happy are they who live
and die in God’s love.”

let-us-love-our-enemies-bl-franz-jagerstatter-21-may-2020 and 10 july 2020

” …We need no rifles or pistols for our battle
but instead, spiritual weapons –
and the foremost among these is prayer….
Through prayer,
we continually implore new grace from God,
since without God’s help and grace,
it would be impossible for us to preserve the Faith
and be true to His commandments….”

we need no rifles or pistols for our battle- bl franz jagerstatter martyr 10 july 2020

“Since the death of Christ,
almost every century
has seen the persecution of Christians,
there have always been heroes
and martyrs who gave their lives –
often in horrible ways –
for Christ and their faith.
If we hope to reach our goal some day,
then we, too, must become heroes of the faith.”

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943)
Martyr of Conscientious Objection

we-need-no-rifles-or-pistols-for-our-battle-bl-franz-jagerstatter-21-may-2020 and 10 july 2020

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Posted in GOD the FATHER, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 June – ‘Let us love our enemies, bless those who curse us…’

Quote/s of the Day – 16 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Tuesday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: 1 Kings 21:17-29, Psalm 51:3-6, 11, 16, Matthew 5:43-48

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart
but you shall reason with your neighbour,
lest you bear sin because of him.
You shall not take vengeance
or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people
but, you shall love your neighbour as yourself:  I am the Lord”

Leviticus 19:17-18

leviticus 19 17-18 you shall not hate your brother - love our enemy - 16 june 2020

“But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you…”

Matthew 5:44

matthew-5-44-but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-16-march-2019 and 16 june 2020

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

St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)
Monk and Bishop

Sermons addressed to the people, no. 23, 3

matthew-5-44-love-your-enemies-so-hold-fast-to-the-sweet-st-caesarius-of-arles-18-june-2019 and 16 june 2020

“We must show love
for those who do evil to us
and pray for them.
Nothing is dearer
or more pleasing to God than this.”

St Bridget of Sweden (c 1303-1373)

we must show love for those who do evil to us - st bridget of sweden 16 june 2020

“… I declare to you,
that there is no other way of salvation
than the one followed by Christians.
Since this way teaches me to forgive my enemies
and all who have offended me,
I willingly forgive the king
and all those who have desired my death.
And I pray that they will obtain
the desire of Christian Baptism.”

St Paul Miki SJ (1564-1597) Martyr

i declare to you that there is no other way of salvation - st paul miki 16 june 2020

“All our religion is but a false religion
and all our virtues are mere illusions
and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God,
if we have not that universal charity for everyone –
for the good and for the bad,
for the poor and for the rich
and for all those who do us harm,
as much as those who do us good.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

all-our-religion-is-but-a-false-religion-if-we-have-not-love-for-our-enemies-st-john-vianney-4-aug-2018 and 16 june 2020

“When we talk about the coming of the Kingdom
and pray for its coming,
we are not thinking of a discrimination
according to race or blood
but of the brotherhood of all,
for all men are our brothers –
not excluding even those who hate and attack us –
in a close bond with the One,
who causes the sun to rise on the good
and the bad alike (Mt 5:45).”

Blessed Titus Brandsma (1881-1942) Martyr

all-men-are-our-brothers-bl-titus-brandsma-1st-sat-lent-16-march-2019 and 16 june 2020

“Let us love our enemies,
bless those who curse us,
pray for Those who persecute us.
For love will conquer
and will endure for all eternity.
And happy are they who live
and die in God’s love.”

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943)
“Called-up to a Higher Order”
Martyr of Conscientious Objection

let us love our enemies - bl franz jagerstatter 21 may 2020

Posted in MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 6 February

St Paul Miki SJ (1564/65-1597) & Companions/Martyrs of Nagasaki – 26 saints (Memorial)
Their story:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/saints-of-the-day-6-february-st-paul-miki-companions-26-martyrs-of-nagasaki/

St Alfonso Maria Fusco (1839-1910)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/saint-of-the-day-6-february-st-alfonso-maria-fusco-1839-1910/

St Amand of Maastricht (c 584-c 679)
St Amand of Moissac
St Amand of Nantes
St Andrew of Elnone
Bl Angelus of Furci
St Antholian of Auvergne
St Brinolfo Algotsson
Cassius of Auvergne
Bl Diego de Azevedo
St Dorothy of Caesarea (c 279/290-311) Martyr
The Life of St Dorothea:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/06/saint-of-the-day-6-february-st-dorothy-of-caesarea-died-311-virgin-martyr/

St Ethelburga of Wessex
Bl Francesca of Gubbio
St Francesco Spinelli (1853-1913)

St Gerald of Ostia
St Guarinus
St Guethenoc
St Hildegund
St Ina of Wessex
St Jacut
St Liminius of Auvergne
Bl Mary Teresa Bonzel
St Mateo Correa-Magallanes
St Maximus of Aurvergne
St Mel of Ardagh
St Melchu of Armagh
St Mun of Lough Ree
St Relindis of Eyck
St Revocata
St Saturninus
St Tanco of Werden
St Theophilus
St Theophilus the Lawyer
St Vaast of Arras
St Victorinus of Auvergne

Martyrs of Emesa:
St Luke the Deacon
St Mucius the Lector
St Silvanus of Emesa

Posted in MARTYRS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 6 February – “On the Holy Mountain”

Thought for the Day – 6 February – The Memorial of St Paul Miki S.J. (c 1564-1597) & Companions – 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki

When the first missionaries, like St Francis Xavier, came to Japan in 1549 they were welcomed.   Many Japanese became Christians.   When the leader Hideyoshi took command, he feared that Christians would take over the government.   In 1587, he banished them and destroyed many of their churches.   Some missionary priests stayed and went into hiding, dressing like Japanese in order to minister to the Christians.

More than 3,000 Christians were martyred in Japan.   On 8 December 1596, Hideyoshi arrested and condemned to death the friars of Miako.   Among them were three Japanese Jesuits, six Franciscans (four of them Spanish) and seventeen Japanese laymen.   Charged with attempting to harm the government, they were sentenced to crucifixion.   Some of these men were very young – Louis was 10, Anthony, 13, Thomas, 16 and Gabriel, 19.   The best known is Paul Miki, who was a Japanese of a noble family, a Jesuit brother and a brilliant preacher.

The twenty-six men were tortured and then forced to walk more than 300 miles from Miako to Nagasaki through snow and ice and freezing streams.   Along the way they preached to the people who had come out to see them.   They sang psalms of praise and joy.   They prayed the rosary and told the people that such a martyrdom was an occasion of rejoicing, not of sadness.   Finally, on 5 February they reached Nagasaki, where twenty-six crosses awaited them on a hill now called the Holy Mountain.   It is said that the Christians ran to their crosses, singing.   St Paul Miki said –

“The only reason for my being killed, is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ.    I thank God it is for this reason that I die.    I believe that I am telling the truth before I die.   I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again – ask Christ to help you become happy.    I obey Christ.   After Christ’s example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them.   I ask God to have pity on all and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”the-only-reason-st-paul-miki-nagasaki-martyr-6-feb-2018.jpg

Soldiers bound them to the crosses with iron bands at their wrists, ankles and throats.  Then they thrust them through with lances.   Many people came to watch the cruel deaths.   Hideyoshi and his solders had hoped the example would frighten other Christians.   Instead, it gave them the courage to profess their faith as the martyrs had.

These martyrs died an horrendous and agonising death in witness to their faith in Jesus Christ.   We may not be asked to make this sacrifice but we are all called upon to bear witness to our faith, sometimes in ways that are very difficult – yes even in our parishes, neighbourhoods and schools.   Could we witness thus?

In 1858, Japan again permitted Christianity in Japan.   Missionaries found thousands of Christians still in Japan.   For two hundred years they had carried on the faith in secret.   

Paul Miki was born in Japan and educated by the Jesuits.   He would have been the very first Japanese priest if he had escaped arrest, for he had already completed his studies for the priesthood.   From his cross he forgave his persecutors and told the people to ask Christ to show them how to be truly happy.

St Paul Miki and the Martyrs of Nagasaki, Pray for Us!st paul miki and the nagasaki martyrs - pray for us 6 feb 2019.jpg

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MARTYRS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 6 February – St Paul Miki SJ (c 1564-1597) Martyr

Quote of the Day – 6 February – The Memorial of St Paul Miki SJ (c 1564-1597) & Companions – 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki

“Like my Master I shall die upon the cross.
Like Him, a lance will pierce my heart,
so that my blood and my love,
can flow out upon the land
and sanctify it to His name.”

St Paul Miki (c 1564-1597)like my master - st payl miki - 6 feb 2019.jpg

Posted in FRANCISCAN OFM, JESUIT SJ, MARTYRS, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 6 February – The Memorial of St Paul Miki S.J. (1564/65-1597) & Companions – 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki

Thought for the Day – 6 February – The Memorial of St Paul Miki S.J. (1564/65-1597) & Companions – 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki

Twenty-six Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries and Japanese converts crucified together by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Following their arrests, they were taken to the public square of Meako to the city’s principal temple.   They each had a piece of their left ear cut off and then paraded from city to city for weeks with a man shouting their crimes and encouraging their abuse.   The priests and brothers were accused of preaching the outlawed faith of Christianity, the lay people of supporting and aiding them.  They were each repeatedly offered freedom if they would renounce Christianity.   They each declined.   Today, a new era has come for the Church in Japan.   Although the number of Catholics is not large, the Church is respected and has total religious freedom.   The spread of Christianity in the Far East is slow and difficult.   Faith such as that of the 26 martyrs is needed today as much as in 1597.

These Martyrs died an horrendous and agonising death in witness to their faith in Jesus Christ.   We may not be called to make such a sacrifice but we are all called to bear witness to Him, very often this will result in broken ‘friendships’, ostracisation, bad ‘vibes’ around us, loneliness and feelings of being rejected – remember these utterly courageous Martyrs, pray for their intercession and bear your sufferings in silence!

MARTYRS OF NAGASAKI, PRAY FOR US!martyrs-of-nagasaki-pray-for-us-2018

Posted in MARTYRS, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 6 February – The Memorial of St Paul Miki S.J. (1564/65-1597) & Companions – 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki and St Alfonso Maria Fusco (1839-1910)

Quote/s of the Day – 6 February – The Memorial of St Paul Miki S.J. (1564/65-1597) & Companions – 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki and St Alfonso Maria Fusco (1839-1910)

“The only reason for my being killed, is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ.    I thank God it is for this reason that I die.    I believe that I am telling the truth before I die.   I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again – ask Christ to help you become happy.   I obey Christ.   After Christ’s example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them.   I ask God to have pity on all and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”the only reason - st paul miki - nagasaki martyr - 6 feb 2018

“Like my Master I shall die upon the cross.   Like Him, a lance will pierce my heart so that my blood and my love can flow out upon the land and sanctify it to His name.”

St Paul Miki (1564/65-1597)like my master - st paul miki - 6 feb 2018

“The Work is God’s;
I am His worker;
God began it.
For God I shall continue it.
God wanted this Work done
and He obliged me to do it.
God will provide.”the work is god's - st alfonso maria fusco - 6 feb 2018

“This is the scope of our lives,
to sanctify ourselves through love.”

St Alfonso Maria Fusco (1839-1910)this is the scope of our lives - st alfonso fusco - 6 feb 2018

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

Quote/s of the Day – 6 February

Quote of the Day – 6 February

“Like my Master I shall die upon the cross.   Like Him, a lance will pierce my heart so that my blood and my love can flow out upon the land and sanctify it to His name.”

~~~ St Paul Miki

“The measure of love,
is love without measure.”

~~~ St Bernard of Clairvaux

like-my-master-stpaulmikithe-measure-of-love-stbernardofclairvaux

 

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

One Minute Reflection – 6 February

One Minute Reflection – 6 February

But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly…….1 Peter 4:13

REFLECTION – “The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again – Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”……St Paul Miki

PRAYER – Jesus, Man of Sorrows, in every suffering keep my eyes fixed on You. Let me keep ever before my mind the glory to come and so face the suffering with true Christian courage. St Paul Miki and your 26 Martyr Companions, Pray for us, amen!

1-peter-4-no-138e5c1051de82898d99aa9a7e9cee653est-paul-miki-pray-for-us