Tag: stsimeonthenewtheologian

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER

Quote/s of the Day – 5 January – ‘I, He said, Am the Christ’

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” – Vigil of the Epiphany –

“Wake up then, believer
and note what is stated here:
“In my Name.”
That [Name] is Christ Jesus.
Christ signifies King, Jesus signifies Saviour.
Therefore, whatever we ask for
that would hinder our salvation,
we do not ask in our Saviour’s Name
and yet, He is our Saviour,
not only when He does what we ask
but also, when He does not.
When He sees us ask anything
to the disadvantage of our salvation,
He shows Himself our Saviour by not doing it.
The physician knows
whether what the sick person asks for,
is to the advantage or disadvantage of his health.
And [the physician] does not allow
what would be harmful to him,
although the sick person himself, desires it.
But the physician looks to his final cure.”

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

“The Lord, although He was God, became man.
He suffered for the sake of those who suffer,
He was bound for those in bonds,
condemned for the guilty,
buried for those who lie in the grave
but He rose from the dead and cried aloud:
“Who will contend with Me? Let him confront Me.”
I have freed the condemned,
brought the dead back to life,
raised men from their graves.
Who has anything to say against Me?
I, He said, Am the Christ, I have destroyed death,
triumphed over the enemy, trampled hell underfoot,
bound the strong one
and taken men up to the heights of Heaven.
I Am the Christ.
Come, then, all you nations of men,
receive forgiveness for the sins which defile you.
I Am your Forgiveness.
I Am the Passover which brings salvation.
I Am the Lamb Who was immolated for you.
I Am your Ransom, your Life,
your Resurrection, your Light,
I am your Salvation and your King.
I will bring you to the heights of Heaven.
With My own Right Hand I will raise you up
and I will show you the Eternal Father.”

St Melito of Sardis (Died c 180)
Bishop, Father

“Listen! the reason He is called Saviour
is because, for all those
to whom He is united,
He gains salvation.
Now salvation means,
to be delivered from all ills and,
at the same time,
to find all blessings forever –
Life instead of death,
Light in place of darkness
and, instead of the slavery
of the passions and unworthy deeds,
the complete freedom granted
to all those, who are united to Christ,
Saviour of all beings.
Thus they will possess,
without being able to lose it,
all joy, all happiness, all blessedness (…)
that that none can ever know,
or conceive, or see,
if not sincerely and ardently
attached to Christ.”

St Symeon the New Theologian (c 949-1022)

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Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The DIVINE INFANT, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER

Quote/s of the Day – 5 December – United to the Saviour

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 December – “The Month of the Divine Infant and the Immaculate Conception” – The Second Week of Advent

“Listen! the reason He is called Saviour
is because, for all those
to whom He is united,
He gains salvation.
Now salvation means,
to be delivered from all ills and,
at the same time,
to find all blessings forever –
Life instead of death,
Light in place of darkness
and, instead of the slavery
of the passions and unworthy deeds,
the complete freedom granted
to all those, who are united to Christ,
Saviour of all beings.
Thus they will possess,
without being able to lose it,
all joy, all happiness, all blessedness (…)
that that none can ever know,
or conceive, or see,
if not sincerely and ardently
attached to Christ.”

St Symeon the New Theologian (c 949-1022)

“My dear Jesus, Thou art the King of Heaven
but now I behold Thee as an Infant
wandering over the earth –
tell me whom dost Thou seek?
I pity Thee when I see Thee, so poor and humbled
but I pity Thee more when I see Thee
treated with such ingratitude
by the same men whom Thou came to save.
Thou dost weep but I also weep
because I have been one of those
who in times past have despised
and persecuted Thee.
But now I value Thy grace
more than all the kingdoms of the world;
forgive me, O my Jesus,
all the evil I have committed against Thee
and permit me to carry Thee always in my heart
during the journey of my life to eternity,
even as Mary carried Thee in her arms
during the flight into Egypt.”

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

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, NOTES to Followers, PENTECOST, QUOTES on GRACE, The HEART, The HOLY SPIRIT, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 June – ‘… Where will you find Him? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 5 June – Pentecost Sunday, Alleluia! – Acts 2:1-11, John 14:23-31.

“But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things … ” – John 14:26

REFLECTION – “Whoever has the Spirit as their teacher
has no need of human knowledge
but, enlightened by this Spirit’s Light,
beholds the Son, sees the Father
and worships the Trinity of Persons,
the One God, Who is inexpressibly One by nature.

Stand still, O man! Tremble, you who are mortal by nature,
and consider how you have been taken from nothing
and how, in coming from your mother’s womb,
you saw the world that was made before you were.
And if you could have understood the height of Heaven,
or show the nature of the sun,
the moon and the stars,
where they are fixed and how they move…
or even the nature of the earth, from which you were taken,
its limits and bounds, its size and greatness…,
if you had uncovered the end of all things
and counted the sand of the sea
and if, too, you could have known your own nature…
then would you be able to consider your Creator,
how, in the Trinity, Unity dwells without confusion
and how, in the Unity, there is Trinity without division.

Seek the Spirit!…
Perhaps God will comfort you and grant you,
as He has already granted you to see the world,
the sun and the light of day,
yes, He will deign to enlighten you now, in the same way…,
to enlighten you with the Light of the Threefold Sun…
Then you will learn the Spirit’s grace –
that, even when absent, he is present by his power
and, when present, He is unseen because of His Divine nature
and is everywhere and nowhere.

If you try to see Him with the senses
where will you find Him? You will simply say: -Nowhere.
But if you have the strength to contemplate Him spiritually,
it is He, rather, Who will enlighten your soul
and open the eyes of your heart.” – St Simeon the New Theologian (949-1022) Monk, Father (Hymn 21).

PRAYER – O God, Thou, Who on this day have taught the hearts of the faithful by the Light of the Holy Spirit, grant us, by that Holy Spirit Himself, to know what is right and ever to rejoice in His help. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, Quotes on SALVATION, The HEART, The HOLY NAME, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 31 March – Fullness of goodness

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Quote/s of the Day – 31 March – Thursday of the Fourth week in Lent

“For one Lamb died for all,
to restore the whole flock on earth
to God the Father;
“one died for all”
to make all subject to God;
“one died for all”
to gain all, so that
“all might live,
no longer for themselves
but for Him who died
and was raised to life for them”
(2 Cor 5:14-15).”

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Listen! the reason He is called Saviour
is because, for all those
to whom He is united,
He gains salvation.
Now salvation means,
to be delivered from all ills and,
at the same time,
to find all blessings forever –
Life instead of death,
Light in place of darkness
and, instead of the slavery
of the passions and unworthy deeds,
the complete freedom granted
to all those, who are united to Christ,
Saviour of all beings.
Thus they will possess,
without being able to lose it,
all joy, all happiness, all blessedness (…)
that that none can ever know,
or conceive, or see,
if not sincerely and ardently
attached to Christ.”

St Symeon the New Theologian (c 949-1022)

“True spiritual life consists in this:
that man keep his eyes on God, all the time,
long for nothing but for God,
keep nothing in mind but God,
begin every single action, in God’s Name
and direct it to Him.”

St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539)

“O God, fullness of goodness,
You do not forsake any,
except those who forsake You.
You never take away Your gifts,
except when we take away our hearts.
We rob the goodness of God,
if we claim the glory of our salvation for ourselves.
We dishonour His mercy,
if we say He has failed us.
… We blaspheme His goodness,
if we deny that He has helped and assisted us.
In short, O God, cry loud and clear into our ears:
“your destruction comes from you, O Israel.
In me alone is found your help” (Hos 13:9).

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, St PAUL!, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 28 February – BLIND

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 February – 1 Cor.inthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43

Blind

“I have appeared to you for this purpose,
to appoint you as a servant and witness,
of what you have seen
and what you will be shown.
I shall deliver you from this people
and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,
to open their eyes, that they may turn
from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God,
so that they may obtain forgiveness of sins
and an inheritance among those,
who have been consecrated by faith in me.”

Acts 26:16-18

“I was in the world like someone blind
and as though without God,
since I did not know my God.
Then You, in person, pitied me
and looked upon me,
when You shone Your Light into my darkness,
You converted me
and drew me to Yourself, O my Creator.
And when You had snatched me
out of the depths of the pit …
of this life’s pleasures and desires,
then You showed me the way
and gave me a guide
who would lead me
to Your commandments.”

St Simeon the New Theologian (949-1022)

“Our lamps are going out.”

Matthew 25:8
“I have not become as wise
as those five wise Virgins.
… But I have become the most wretched of the foolish ones
by failing to keep some oil for my lamp,
namely, mercy together with virginity
or, still more, the anointing from Baptism’s Sacred fount…

Therefore, the doors of the wedding hall
are closed to me too, in my negligence.
But, O my Bridegroom,
while I am still in my body here below,
listen to my soul, Your Bride…
From now on, I will cry aloud piteously,
“Oh, open to me Your Heavenly Door,
bring me into Your Wedding Chamber on high,
make me worthy of Your Holy Kiss,
Your pure and spotless Embrace.
Oh let me not hear the Voice saying
it does not know me!
I am blind; set alight with Your own Light
my spirit’s extinguished flame!”

St Nerses Chnorhali (1102-1173)
Armenian Bishop

“Spiritually, we are all blind
to a greater or lesser extent.
Do we understand the infinite truth,
beauty and goodness of God,
in Whom our true happiness consists?
Do we understand the emptiness
of the world, despite the glory of its transient beauty, which can never satisfy our hearts?
Do we understand our own nothingness
and our dependence on God for light and grace?
If we do not possess this lively faith
and our eyes are dazzled
by the glittering vanities of the world,
let us turn to Jesus and beseech Him:
“Lord, that I may see!”
Only the light which comes from You
is the true light which illumines every man
who comes into this world (Jn 1:9).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

May the Lord Jesus Touch Our Eyes
By Origen (c 185-253)
Father of the Church

May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes,
as He did those of the blind.
Then we shall begin to see in visible things
those which are invisible.
May He open our eyes to gaze,
not on present realities
but on the blessings to come.
May He open the eyes of our heart,
to contemplate God in Spirit,
through Jesus Christ the Lord,
to whom belong,
power and glory,
through all eternity.
Amen.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE MERCY, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 February – ‘Call to God; bow down before Him.’

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One Minute Reflection – 27 February – Quinquagesima Sunday – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Luke 18:39

REFLECTION – “My friend, you have learned that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you, if that is what you want and that every blessing of eternity lies within your hands. So make haste to see, grasp and win these blessings stored up for you… Call to God; bow down before Him.

Like the blind man of old, you, too, should say: “Have pity on me, Son of God and open the eyes of my soul, that I may see that Light of the world which You Are, O my God and may become, likewise, a child of that Divine Light. O good and generous One: send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, even on me to teach me all about You, all about what is Yours, God of the universe. Dwell also in me, as you have said that I, in my turn, may become worthy of dwelling in You. Make me know how to enter into You and know, that I possess You within me. O Thou, Invisible One, deign to take shape in me, that, seeing Your inaccessible Beauty, I may bear Your image, O You Who dwell in the heavens and may I forget all visible things. Grant to me, the glory the Father has given to You, O merciful One, so that, resembling You as all Your servants do, I may share in Your Divine Life, by grace and may constantly remain with You, now and always, forever and ever!” – St Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022) Greek Monk (Ethics 5).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech You, mercifully hear our prayers, loose us from the chains of our sins and keep us from all adversity. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 15 January – … Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart …’ Matthew 11:29

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Quote/s of the Day – 15 January – Readings: Phillippians 3:7-12, Matthew 11:25-34

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart
and you will find rest for your souls…”

Matthew 11:29

“For in prosperity,
a man is often puffed up with pride,
whereas tribulations chastens
and humbles him through suffering and sorrow.
In the midst of prosperity,
the mind is elated,
and in prosperity.
a man forgets himself.
In hardship, he is forced to reflect on himself,
even though he be unwilling.
In prosperity, a man often destroys
the good he has done.
Amidst difficulties,
he often repairs what he long since did
in the way of wickedness.”

St Alfred the Great (849-899)
King

“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)

“Arm yourself with prayer,
instead of a sword;
be clothed with humility,
instead of fine raiment.”

St Dominic de Guzman OP (1170-1221)

“If you seek an example of humility,
look upon Him Who is Crucified,
although He was God, He chose to be judged
by Pontius Pilate and put to death. …
If you seek an example of obedience,
imitate Him Who was obedient to the Father
“even to death” (Phil 2:8).
“For just as through the disobedience
of one person, Adam,
the many were made sinners,
so through the obedience of One,
the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). .
If you seek an example of contempt
for earthly things,
imitate Him Who is “King of kings
and Lord of lords” (1 Tm 6:15),
“in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge” (Col 2:3).
On the Cross He was stripped naked,
ridiculed, spat upon, bruised,
crowned with thorns,
given to drink of vinegar and gall.”

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

“ … If you die with Him,
you shall also likewise
live with Him.
If you are His companion in punishment,
so shall you be in glory.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

“If humble souls are contradicted,
they remain calm;
if they are calumniated,
they suffer with patience;
if they are little esteemed,
neglected, or forgotten,
they consider this their due;
if they are weighed down
with occupations,
they perform them cheerfully. ”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, POETRY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on WATCHING, The DIVINE INFANT, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 December – ‘He has come down to earth, to take you to heaven …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 December – The Sixth Day in the Christmas Octave, Readings: 1 John 2:12-17, Psalm 96:7-10, Luke 2:36-40

“She [Anna] spoke about the child to all
who were awaiting
the redemption of Jerusalem…”

Luke 2:38

“He has come down to earth
to take you to heaven,
He became mortal
that you might become God
and put on your original beauty.”

St Romanos Melodios (c 490-c 556)
Monk, Composer of Hymns, Poet

“The Angel said to the shepherds,
“This is a sign for you” (Lk 2: 12),
you who are humble,
you who are obedient,
you who are not haughty (Rom 12: 16),
you who are keeping vigil
and meditating on God’s law,
day and night (Ps 1:2).
“This is a sign for you,” he said.
What is this sign?
The sign the Angels promised,
the sign the people asked for,
the sign the prophets foretold,
the Lord Jesus has now made
and He shows it to you. …”

St Bernard (1091-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

“Listen! the reason He is called Saviour
is because, for all those
to whom He is united,
He gains salvation.
Now salvation means,
to be delivered from all ills and,
at the same time,
to find all blessings forever –
Life instead of death,
Light in place of darkness
and, instead of the slavery
of the passions and unworthy deeds,
the complete freedom granted
to all those, who are united to Christ,
Saviour of all beings.
Thus they will possess,
without being able to lose it,
all joy, all happiness, all blessedness (…)
that that none can ever know,
or conceive, or see,
if not sincerely and ardently
attached to Christ.”

St Symeon the New Theologian (c 949-1022)

Who lives in Love
By St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)
Martyr

Who lives in Love, loves least to live
and long delays doth rue,
if Him he love by Whom he lives,
to Whom all praise is due,
Who for our love did choose to live
and was content to die,
Who loved our love more than His life
and love with Life did buy.
Let us in life, yea with our life
requite His Living Love,
for best we live when least we live,
if Love our life remove.
Mourn, therefore, no true lover’s death,
life only him annoy
and when he taketh leave of life
then Love begins his joys.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 December – ‘ … I was in the world like someone blind … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 3 December – “Month of the Immaculate Conception” – Friday of the First week of Advent – Readings: Isaiah 29: 17-24; Psalm 27: 1, 4, 13-14; Matthew 9: 27-31 and The Memorial of St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552)

“And their eyes were opened …” – Matthew 9:30

REFLECTION – “Master, O Christ!, Master Who saves souls,
God, Lord of all Powers both visible and invisible
because You are the Creator of all in Heaven
and under the heavens,
of what is under the earth
but also of what is on earth …:
You hold all things in Your Hand
because it is Your Hand, O Lord, that is the great power
accomplishing Your Father’s will,
shaping, forming, creating
and guiding our lives in an inexpressible way.

This, then, is what created me, too
and called me into being, from nothing.
So I was born into this world
yet wholly failed to know You, You my good Master,
You my Creator, You Who fashioned me.
I was in the world like someone blind
and as though without God, since I did not know my God.

Then You, in person, pitied me and looked upon me,
when You shone Your Light into my darkness, You converted me
and drew me to Yourself, O my Creator.
And when You had snatched me out of the depths of the pit …
of this life’s pleasures and desires,
then You showed me the way and gave me a guide
who would lead me to Your commandments.
I followed him, followed him without a care …
but not only that, when I saw You there – You my Good Master –
together with my guide and my Father,
I experienced inexpressible love and desire.
I was beyond faith, beyond hope
and said: “Now indeed I see the good things to come” (cf. Heb 10:1),
the Kingdom of Heaven is there.
I saw before my eyes those things “that eye has not seen
nor ear heard”(Is 64:3; 1 Co 2:9).” – St Simeon the New Theologian (949-1022) Monk (Hymn 37)

PRAYER – Lord, watch over Your people who come to You in confidence. Strengthen the hearts of those who hope in You. Give courage to those who falter because of their failures. In this holy season of Advent, lead them closer to You in faith and hope, by the power of your Holy Spirit. May they proclaim Your saving acts of kindness here on earth and one day, in Your eternal kingdom and may the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived without sin and Your great Missionaries, St Francis Xavier, and St Birnus bring us light and strength. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on HYPROCRISY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The BEATITUDES, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 30 October – ‘… he who humbles himself will be exalted’ Luke 14:11

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” and Mary’s Day – Readings: Romans 11: 1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Psalm 94: 12-15, 17-18; Luke 14: 1, 7-11

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

Luke 14:11

“The servant is not greater
than his Master”

John 13:16

“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)

“As “pride is the beginning of all sin,” (Eccl. 10:15)
so humility is the foundation of all virtue.
Learn to be really humble and not,
as the hypocrite, humble merely in appearance.”

St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

“ … If you die with Him,
you shall also likewise
live with Him.
If you are His companion in punishment,
so shall you be in glory.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

“Humility and charity
are the two master chords –
one, the lowest;
the other, the highest;
all the others are dependent on them.
Therefore, it is necessary, above all.
to maintain ourselves in these two virtues,
for observe well,
that the preservation of the whole edifice
depends on the foundation and the roof!”

“If humble souls are contradicted,
they remain calm;
if they are calumniated,
they suffer with patience;
if they are little esteemed,
neglected, or forgotten,
they consider this their due;
if they are weighed down
with occupations,
they perform them cheerfully. ”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

“St Ambrose describes virtue,
as a slow martyrdom.
In this sense, we must all be martyrs.
… Our martyrdom, … will be prolonged.
It will last all our lives
and will end only when we accept death
with resignation from the hands of God.
Ours is the martyrdom of virtue.
… It is necessary, then,
to descend into the mire of humility
and to remain there until we die.
Only after we have died to ourselves,
shall we rise again in God.
After the death of our lower instincts and vices,
we shall find a new life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – The Word of the Cross

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – Tuesday of Passion Week or the Fifth Week of Lent, Readings: Numbers 21:4-9, Psalms 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21, John 8:21-30

“Are you able to drink the cup
that I am to drink?”

Matthew 20:22

“…And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

John 3:14-15

“The servant is not greater than his Master”

John 13:16

“He conquered death,
broke the gates of hell,
won for Himself a people
to be His co-heirs,
lifted flesh from corruption
up to the glory of eternity.”

“The Son of God is nailed to the Cross
but on the Cross,
God conquers human death.
Christ, the Son of God, dies
but all flesh is made alive in Christ.
The Son of God is in hell
but man is carried back to heaven.”

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

The Word of the Cross
by Saint Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431)

Look on thy God, Christ hidden in our flesh.
A bitter word, the cross and bitter sight:
Hard rind without, to hold the heart of heaven.
Yet sweet it is, for God upon that tree
Did offer up His life upon that rood
My Life hung, that my life might stand in God.
Christ, what am I to give Thee for my life?
Unless take from Thy hands the cup they hold,
To cleanse me with the precious draught of death.
What shall I do? My body to be burned?
Make myself vile? The debt’s not paid out yet.
Whate’er I do, it is but I and Thou,
And still do I come short, still must Thou pay
My debts, O Christ, for debts Thyself hadst none.
What love may balance Thine? My Lord was found
In fashion like a slave, that so His slave
Might find himself in fashion like his Lord.
Think you the bargain’s hard, to have exchanged
The transient for the eternal, to have sold
Earth to buy Heaven? More dearly God bought me.

“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)

“Let us then learn from the Cross of Jesus our proper way of living.
Should I say ‘living’ or, instead, ‘dying’?
Rather, both living and dying.
Dying to the world, living for God.
Dying to vices and living by the virtues.
Dying to the flesh, but liv­ing in the spirit.
Thus in the Cross of Christ, there is death
and in the Cross of Christ there is life.
The death of death is there and the life of life.
The death of sins is there and the life of the virtues.
The death of the flesh is there and the life of the spirit.”

St Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)

“ … If you die with Him,
you shall also likewise
live with Him.
If you are His companion in punishment,
so shall you be in glory.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

(Book II, Ch 12)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 11 March – “Whoever does not gather with me, scatters.” Luke 11:23

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 11 March – Thursday of the Third Week of Lent, Readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28, Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7,8-9, Luke 11:14-23

“Whoever does not gather
with me, scatters.”

Luke 11:23

“Do not have Jesus Christ on your lips
and the world in your heart.”

St Ignatius of Antioch (37-105)
Bishop & Martyr

“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)

“Without the Way, there is no going,
Without the Truth, there is no knowing,
Without the Life, there is no living.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

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

St John Leonardi (1541-1609)

“We ought to glory in nothing
other than, the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You are blessed and don’t know it.
You have Jesus Crucified, with you!”

St Paul of the Cross (1604-1775)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MINI SERIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SPEAKING of ....., St JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN!, The BEATITUDES, The WORD

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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 FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2020, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on HYPROCRISY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION

Quote of the Day – 28 March – ‘… Do you get upset?’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 28 March – Saturday of the Fourth week of Lent

“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 and 28 march 2020

Posted in Blessed JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2019, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

Lenten Preparation Novena – Day Six – 2 March 2019 “Come Back to Me With all your Heart”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Preparation Novena – Day Six – 2 March 2019
“Come Back to Me With all your Heart”

Lent 2019 will begin on
Wednesday, 6 March
The Holy Triduum is
Thursday 18 April – Holy Saturday 20 April
Easter Sunday 21 April 2019
A Meditation for this ‘Prelude to Lent’

“He answered, “I heard you in the garden
but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.”
Then God asked: Who told you that you were naked?
Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat?”

Genesis 3:10-11

“Do you see, dear friend, how patient God is?   For when he said, “Adam, where are you?” and when Adam did not at once confess his sin but said, “I heard your voice, O Lord, and realised that I am naked and hid myself,” God was not angered, nor did He immediately turn away.   Rather, He gave him the opportunity of a second reply and said, “Who told you that you are naked?   Unless you ate of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat.”
Consider how profound are the words of God’s wisdom.   He says, “Why do you say that you are naked but hide your sin?   Do you really think that I see only your body but do not see your heart and your thoughts?”   Since Adam was deceived he hoped that God would not know his sin.   He said something like this to himself, “If I say that I am naked, God in His ignorance will say, ‘Why are you naked?’   Then I shall have to deny and say, ‘I do not know’ and so I shall not be caught by Him and He will give me back the garment that I had at first.   If not, as long as He does not cast me out, He will not exile me!”
While he was thinking these thoughts … God, unwilling to multiply his guilt, says, “How did you realise that you are naked?   Unless you ate of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat.”   It is as though He said, “Do you really think that you can hide from me?   Do you imagine that I do not know what you have done?   Will you not say, ‘I have sinned?’ Say, O scoundrel, ‘Yes, it is true, Master, I have transgressed your command.   I have fallen by listening to the woman’s counsel, I am greatly at fault for doing what she said and disobeying Your word.   Have mercy on me!’”   But he does not humble himself, he does not bend.   The neck of his heart is like a sinew of iron!   For had he said this he might have stayed in paradise.   By this one word he might have spared himself that whole cycle of evils without number that he endured by his expulsion and in spending so many centuries in hell.”

Saint Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022)
(Discourses, 5)will you not say I have sinned - have mercy on me - st simeon the theologian - lent prep novena 2 march 2019.jpg

A Meditation for this ‘Prelude to Lent’

REFLECTION – “Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.”

“These are thoughts, I need hardly say, especially suited to this season.   From the earliest times down to this day, these weeks before Easter have been set apart every year, for the particular remembrance and confession of our sins.   From the first age downward, not a year has passed but Christians have been exhorted to reflect how far they have let go their birthright, as a preparation for their claiming the blessing.   At Christmas, we are born again with Christ, at Easter we keep the Eucharistic Feast.   In Lent, by penance, we join the two great sacraments together.   Are you, my brethren, prepared to say—is there any single Christian alive who will dare to profess—that he has not in greater or less degree, sinned against God’s free mercies, as bestowed on him, in Baptism without, or rather against his deserts?   Who will say that he has so improved his birthright that the blessing is his fit reward, without either sin to confess, or wrath to deprecate?   See, then, the Church offers you this season for the purpose.

“Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.”

Now it is that, God being your helper, you are to attempt to throw off from you the heavy burden of past transgression, to reconcile yourselves to Him, who has once already imparted to you, His atoning merits and you have profaned them!”

Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)now is the accepted time -bl-j-h-newman- 2 march 2019.jpg

“There is still time for endurance,
for patience,
time for healing,
time for change.
Have you slipped?  Rise up.
Have you sinned?  Cease.
Do not stand among sinners but leap aside.
For when you turn away and weep, then you will be saved.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)

Father and Doctor of the ChurchTHERE Is still time for endurance, time for healing...st basil the great - lent novena 2 march 2019.jpg

Lenten Preparation Novena
DAY SIX

O gracious Father,
infuse in our hearts
the spotless light of Your Divine Wisdom
and open the eyes of our mind
that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel.
Instil in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments,
so that having curbed all carnal desires,
we may lead a spiritual life,
both thinking and doing everything to please You.
Help us to see,
in our ordinary difficulties and duties,
in the trials and temptations of every day,
the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities.
United with Your Son,
who makes His way to Calvary,
I offer You my intention
…………………………………
(Mention your intention)
For You, our God,
are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies;
and to You we render glory,
together with Your Suffering Son,
and with Your all holy,
life-creating Spirit,
now and ever, and forever.
Amenlenten prep novena day six - 2 march 2019.jpg