Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The HEART, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 February – My yoke is easy and My burden light.

One Minute Reflection – 24 February – Feast of St Matthias, Apostle of Christ – Acts 1:15-26; – Matthew 11:25-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am meek and humble of heart … For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” – Matthew 11:29-30

REFLECTION – “The Third Coming of Christ our Bridegroom which is still in the future, is that which will occur at the Judgement or, at the hour of death …

The justice of the Judge lies, in the fact that, it is Christ to Whom the Judgement and the Verdict belong, for He is the Son of Man and the Wisdom of the Father, a Wisdom to Whom all Judgement belongs. To this Wisdom, all hearts are open and manifest, whether they are in Heaven, on earth or in hell … The means with which Christ, our Bridegroom and Judge, makes use, at this Judgement, consist in rewarding and punishing with justice, for He gives to all, according to their merits. On the good and for each good deed carried out in God, He bestows the measureless reward of Himself, unmerited by any creature. For indeed, since it is He Who collaborates in each of the creature’s works, it is all thanks to His Power that the creature merits Christ Himself as reward in all justice! …

The First Coming, namely, when God became a human being, lived humbly and died out of love for us, is one which we should imitate exteriorly through the perfect practice of the virtues and, interiorly, through, charity and genuine humility. The Second Coming which is in the present and which takes place when Christ comes, with His graces into every loving heart, is one which we should desire and pray for everyday, so that we might persevere and progress in new virtues. The Third Coming, at the Judgement or at the hour of our death, is one which we should await with longing, confidence and awe, so that we might be released from this present misery and enter the Palace of Glory!” – Blessed Jan van Ruysbroeck (1293-1381) Canon Regular (The Spiritual Espousals 1).

PRAYER – O God, Who added blessed Matthias to the company of Thy Apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his intercession we may ever be aware of the depth of Thy love for us. 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, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 March – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.” – Matthew 22:34-46

One Minute Reflection – 8 March – Friday in the Second Week of Lent – The Memorial of St John of God OH (1495-1550) Confessor, Founder of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11, Matthew 22:34-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Master, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” … Matthew 22:36

REFLECTION – “O Lord, what is it that you require of Your servants? “Take my yoke upon you,” you say. And what sort of yoke is this? “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” Now who would not willingly bear a yoke that does not press down but gives strength; a burden that does not weigh heavily but refreshes? As You rightly added: “And you will find rest” (Mt 11:29). And what is this yoke of Yours that does not tire but gives rest? It is the first and greatest of the commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.” What could be easier, better or more agreeable than to love the goodness, beauty and love that is most perfectly Yours, O Lord my God?

Do You not offer a reward to those who keep the com­mandments, which are “more desirable than a heap of gold and sweeter than honey from the comb?” (Ps 19[18]:11) So in every way, You offer a very ample reward, as James the Apostle says: “The Lord has prepared the crown of life for those who love him” (Jas 1:12) …And Paul quotes these words from Isaiah: “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9).

That first and great commandment is not only profitable for the man who keeps it or for God Who commands it – the other commandments of God also make perfect him who obeys them, improves him, instructs him and makes him illustrious; in a word, they make him good and holy. If you understand this, realise that you have been created for the glory of God and for your own eternal salvation; this is your end, this is the object of your soul and the treasure of your heart. You will be blessed if you reach this goal but miserable if you are cut off from it.” – St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) Doctor of the Church (The Ascent of the Mind to God, 1).

PRAYER – O God, Who caused blessed John, when burning with love for Thee, to walk unharmed through the midst of flames and through him, enriched Thy Church with a new religious family; grant by the help of his merits, our sins may be burned away by the fire of Thy love and eternal remedies may come to us. 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, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on WISDOM, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 2 March – a Robe, a Ring and Sandals …

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 2 March – Saturday of the Second Week in Lent – Ferial Day – Genesis 27:6-40; Luke 15:11-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

A Robe, a Ring and Sandals
Awake, O Sleeper and Rise from the Dead
(Ephesians 5:14)

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

“I shall go to my father and say: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you.’” Such is our first confession to our Creator, our merciful Lord, the Judge of our sins. For although He knows all things, God is waiting for an expression of our confession. For “if you confess with your mouth… you will be saved” (Rm 10:10)…

This is how the younger son spoke to himself. But it is not enough just to speak, unless you come to the Father. Where are we to look for Him? Where will we find Him? “He got up.” Get up first of all, you who have hitherto been sitting down asleep. This is what the Apostle Paul says: “Awake, O sleeper and rise from the dead” (Eph 5:14) … Up you get, then and hurry along to the Church — there is the Father, there the Son, there the Holy Ghost. He, Who hears you speaking in the intimate depths of your soul, is coming to meet you and, when you are still far off, He sees you and starts running. He sees your heart; he runs up lest anyone delay you and embraces you … He flings His arms around your neck to raise you up, you who were prostrate, burdened with sins, face to the ground. He turns you over to face Heaven, so that you can seek your Creator there. Christ flings His Arms around you, so as to free your neck from slavery’s yoke and set His gentle yoke upon you… He is embracing you when He says: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you” (Mt 11:28). Such is His manner of embrace if you repent.

He causes a Robe, a Ring and Sandals to be brought. The Robe is the garment of wisdom… spiritual clothing — the wedding garment. What is the Ring if not the seal of a genuine faith and the imprint of truth? And as for the Sandals — these are the preaching of the Gospel.” – (Commentary on Saint Luke’s Gospel VII).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 October – ‘ … Call me to You … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 17 October – Memorial of St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) Virgin – Ephesians 3:8-9, 14-19, Matthew 11:25-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” … Matthew 11:29-30

REFLECTION – “Now, O love, my King and my God, now, O Jesus my dear one, receive me into the most gracious care of Your Divine Heart. There, there, so that I may live entirely for You, fasten me to Your love. Now release me into the great ocean of Your Mercy’s abyss – there, there, commit me to the bowels of Your overflowing kindness.   Ah! Now cast me into the voracious flame of Your living love.  There, there, transmit me into Yourself, until my soul and spirit are reduced to ashes in the conflagration.   And at the hour of my passing away, commit me to the providence of Your fatherly charity.

There, there, O my sweet Saviour, console me with the sight of Your gentle presence.   There, by the taste of Your dear ransom, with which You have redeemed me, recreate me.   There, with the loving Voice of Your incomparable love, call me to You.   There, there, receive me in the embrace of Your Infinitely Merciful forgiveness.   There, by the exquisite scent of the breath of Your Spirit’s sweetness, draw me to You, draw me in and draw me.   There, in the kiss of perfect union of Your fruition, immerse me forever.   And grant me, then to see You, to have You, to enjoy You eternally in the greatest happiness, for my soul has yearnrd for You, O Jesus, dearest of all dear ones. Amen.” … St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) (Exercises IV, §400-419).

PRAYER – O Lord Jesus Christ, Who wondrously revealed the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart to blessed Margaret Mary, the Virgin, grant us, by her merits and through imitating her, to love Thee, in all things and above all things, so that we may be found worthy to possess a lasting dwelling place in Thou Heart itself.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on HUMILITY

One Minute Reflection – 4 October – ‘ … If you wish to reach high, then begin at the lowest level. … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 4 October – St Francis of Assisi OFM (c 1181–1226) Confessor, Founder – Galatians 6:14-18, Matthew 11:25-30 Scripture Search here: https://www.drbo.org/

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

REFLECTION – “You are to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”   You are not learning from me how to refashion the fabric of the world, nor to create all things visible and invisible, nor to work miracles and raise the dead.   Rather, you are simply learning of me: “that I am meek and lowly in heart.”   

If you wish to reach high, then begin at the lowest level.   If you are trying to construct some mighty edifice in height, you will begin with the lowest foundation.  This is humility.   However great the mass of the building you may wish to design or erect, the taller the building is to be, the deeper you will dig the foundation.   The building in the course of its erection, rises up high but he who digs its foundation, must first go down very low.   So then, you see even a building is low before it is high and the tower is raised, only after humiliation.”… St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor (Sermon 69)

PRAYER – O God, Who by the good works of blessed Francis enriched Thy Church by establishing a new religious family, grant us to imitate him by emulation of him, by looking upon the things of earth as nought and ever to rejoice in sharing Thy heavenly gifts. ThroughJesus 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 WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 July – ‘ … Begin at the lowest level. …’

One Minute Reflection – 15 July – “Month of the Most Precious Blood” and the Memorial of St Bonaventure (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church – Readings: Exodus 3: 13-20; Psalms 105: 1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27; Matthew 11: 28-30

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

REFLECTION – “You are to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” You are not learning from Me, how to re-fashion the fabric of the world, nor to create all things visible and invisible, nor to work miracles and raise the dead. Rather, you are simply learning of Me: “that I am meek and lowly in heart.” If you wish to reach high, then begin at the lowest level. If you are trying to construct some mighty edifice in height, you will begin with the lowest foundation. This is humility. However great the mass of the building you may wish to design or erect, the taller the building is to be, the deeper you will dig the foundation. The building in the course of its erection rises up high but he who digs its foundation must first go down very low. So then, you see, even a building is low before it is high and the tower is raised only after humiliation.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father and Doctor of Grace – Sermon 69.

PRAYER – Holy God, our Father, we turn to You in confidence as children and pray, give us meekness of heart, make us “poor in spirit” that we may recognise that we are not self-sufficient, that we are unable to build our lives on our own but need You, we need to encounter You, to listen to You, to speak to You. Help us to understand that we need Your gifts, Your wisdom, which is Jesus Himself, in order to do the Your will in our lives and thus to find rest in the hardships of our journey. Grant we pray that the prayers of our Blessed Mother, St Bonaventure and all Your Angels and Saints, may carry us home to You. Through Christ our Lord, one God with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, amen.

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 July – “take my yoke upon you and learn from me” 

One Minute Reflection – 19 July – Thursday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves…” … Matthew 11:29matthew 11 29 take my yoke upon you 18 july 2019

REFLECTION – “You are to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”   You are not learning from me how to refashion the fabric of the world, nor to create all things visible and invisible, nor to work miracles and raise the dead.   Rather, you are simply learning of me: “that I am meek and lowly in heart.”   If you wish to reach high, then begin at the lowest level.   If you are trying to construct some mighty edifice in height, you will begin with the lowest foundation.   This is humility.   However great the mass of the building you may wish to design or erect, the taller the building is to be, the deeper you will dig the foundation.   The building in the course of its erection, rises up high but he who digs its foundation, must first go down very low.   So then, you see even a building is low before it is high and the tower is raised, only after humiliation.”… St Augustine (354-430) Fater & Doctor (Sermon 69)if you wish to reach high then begin at the lowest level st augustine 18 july 2019

PRAYER“Holy God, our Father, we turn to You in confidence as children and pray, give us meekness of heart, make us “poor in spirit” that we may recognise that we are not self-sufficient, that we are unable to build our lives on our own but need You, we need to encounter You, to listen to You, to speak to You.   Help us to understand that we need Your gift, Your wisdom, which is Jesus Himself, in order to do the Your will in our lives and thus to find rest in the hardships of our journey.”   Hear the prayers we request of St Simon of Lipnica dear Lord and holy God, which we pray through Christ, our Light, in the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen. … Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 7 December 2011st simon of lipnica pray for us 18 july 2019