Tag: thelord’sprayer

Posted in GOD the FATHER, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE, The LORD'S PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 19 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – The “Our Father”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 19 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The “Our Father”

“Our Father, Who art in heaven.”
Heaven is God Himself, Who reveals Himself to the souls of the blessed.
If a man lives in God, his mind and heart are already in Heaven, even though he is still an exile upon this earth.
It is a wonderful experience to lead a bodily existence upon earth, while our minds are with God in Heaven, for, as St Paul says, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20).
As we are aware, God is everywhere, in Heaven and on earth.
When we invoke our Father, Who is in Heaven, however, we manifest our faith in Him and in His generosity, whereby, He reveals Himself in all His glory to the blessed and shows His mercy to us poor exiles, when we come to Him.
In the first words of the Pater Noster, we express, not only our faith but, also our hope of being happy with God for all eternity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/18/thought-for-the-day-18-october-the-our-father/

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Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FREE WILL, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, The LORD'S PRAYER, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 October – “Lord, teach us…”

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Jonah 4: 1-11; Psalm 86: 3–6, 9-10; Luke 11: 1-4

“Lord, teach us to pray …”

Luke 11:1

“For what reason did God send Him to preach to the poor?
“To preach release to captives.”
We were the captives.
For many years Satan had bound us
and held us captive and subject to himself.
Jesus has come
“to proclaim release to captives and sight to the blind.”
By His word and the proclamation of His teaching,
the blind see.”

Origen (c 185-253)

“He did not treat us as our sins deserved.
For we are now sons of God.
How do we show this?
The only Son of God died for us,
so that He might not remain alone.
He who died as the only Son,
did not want to remain as the only Son.
For the only Son of God made many sons of God.
He bought brothers for Himself by His blood,
He made them welcome by being rejected,
He ransomed them by being sold,
He honoured them by being dishonoured,
He gave them life by being put to death.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Bishop, Great Western Father and Doctor of Grace

“For the Author and Giver of divine blessings
could not but be our Teacher as well,
providing the words of this prayer,
as precepts of life,
for those disciples who believe in Him
and follow the way He taught in the flesh.
Through these words,
He has revealed the hidden treasures
of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3)
that exist in Him as pure form.
And, in all who offer this prayer,
He kindles the desire to enjoy such treasures.”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Monk and Theologian

Interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer

“Prayer is nothing other than union with God.
… This union of God with his little creature
is something beautiful.
It is a happiness that we cannot understand.
We had deserved not to pray
but God, in His goodness, allows us to speak to Him.
Our prayer is incense,
which He receives with tremendous pleasure.”

St John-Marie Vianney (1786-1859)

(Catechism on Prayer]

“Immediately after rising
and throughout the day,
all make the Sign of the Cross
and renew their trust in God:
to be strengthened by the power of the Father,
to be enlightened by the wisdom of the Son
and to be sanctified by the love of the Holy Spirit.
And as they bless themselves, they may say:
Of myself I can do nothing,
with God I can do everything,
I want to do everything for love of God.”

St Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)

From the Rule of the Pallottines

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on PRAYER, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 October – ‘Lord, teach us to pray …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 6 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Jonah 4: 1-11; Psalm 86: 3–6, 9-10; Luke 11: 1-4

“He was praying in a certain place and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” – Luke 11:1

REFLECTION – “So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer. Let the Father recognise the words of His Son. Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips. We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father, when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins, let us use the words given by our Advocate. He tells us – whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you. What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?” – St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258) – Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr (An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”)

PRAYER – Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Teach us Almighty Father to pray, fill us with the love of Your Spirit and guide us always by the Word and Trust of our lives. With the Blessed Mother of God and of the Holy Rosary, we kneel in love and adoration. May her prayers lead us to heaven. Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on PRAYER, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The LORD'S PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 17 June – The “Our Father”

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Thought for the Day – 17 Juner– Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The “Our Father”

“Our Lord exhorted His disciples on many occasions to pray often and with confidence, if they wished to be heard.
Everything which they asked His heavenly Father, in His name, He said, they would obtain.
Ask, He said and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.
Finally, He insisted that we ought to pray and never to give up.
In other words, life can be a continuous prayer if we offer to God all our thoughts, words and actions.

The ideal Christian prayer is to do the will of God at all times from the motive of pure love.
The Apostles, however, who had not made that much progress in the spiritual life, asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Lk 11:1).
It was then that Our Lord composed the most beautiful of prayer, the “Our Father” (Mt 6:9-13).
When we recite it, we speak to God, in the words of Jesus Christ Himself and unite our weak voices, with the powerful voice of the Son of God!
We address the Eternal God, moreover, by the name of Father.
Even in the Old Testament, God is often referred to in this way.
Then, however, He figured as the Father of the chosen people, whereas now, He is the Father of all.
He is our Father, the Father of all mankind and of all races, whom He has willed to redeem from the slavery of sin.
The term “Our Father” has taken on a new and fuller meaning.
Our weak prayer becomes united to that of Jesus, our first-born Brother and to the prayers of the Apostles, Martyrs, Virgins and Confessors, who form and have formed, throughout the centuries, the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church.
We need no longer feel that we are on our own, for through the Communion of Saints, our entreaties are joined to those of the entire Church, militant, suffering and triumphant.
We can be confident, therefore, that our prayer will be heard!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 June – “This is how you are to pray.” – Matthew 6:9

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One Minute Reflection – 17 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Readings: Second Corinthians 11: 1-11. Psalms 111: 1b-2, 3-4, 7-8, Gospel: Matthew 6: 7-15

“This is how you are to pray.” – Matthew 6:9

REFLECTION – “So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us, to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer. Let the Father recognise the words of His Son. Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips. We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father, when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins, let us use the words given by our Advocate. He tells us – Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you. What more effective prayer could we then make, in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer? …

As the Lord’s Prayer continues, we ask: Give us this day our daily bread.
We can understand this petition in a spiritual and in a literal sense. For in the divine plan both senses may help toward our salvation. For Christ is the Bread of Life; this Bread does not belong to everyone but is ours alone.
When we say, our Father, we understand that He is the Father of those who know Him and believe in Him. In the same way, we speak of our daily bread because Christ is the Bread of those who touch His body.” – St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258) Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr – An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”

PRAYER – Our Father Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:7-15

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – Tuesday of the First week of Lent, Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11, Psalms 34:4-5, 6-7,16-17, 18-19, Matthew 6:7-15

“Father, hallowed be thy name.”

Luke 11:2

“So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears,
is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.
Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.
Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.
We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father,
when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins,
let us use the words given by our Advocate.
He tells us –
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.
What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?”

“As the Lord’s Prayer continues, we ask:
Give us this day our daily bread.
We can understand this petition in a spiritual
and in a literal sense.
For in the divine plan both senses
may help toward our salvation.
For Christ is the Bread of Life;
this Bread does not belong to everyone
but is ours alone.
When we say, our Father,
we understand that he is the Father
of those who know Him and believe in Him.
In the same way, we speak of our daily bread,
because Christ is the Bread of those who touch His body.”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr
An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”

“For the author and giver of divine blessings
could not but be our teacher as well,
providing the words of this prayer,
as precepts of life,
for those disciples who believe in Him
and follow the way He taught in the flesh.
Through these words,
He has revealed the hidden treasures
of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3)
that exist in Him as pure form.
And, in all who offer this prayer,
He kindles the desire to enjoy such treasures.”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Monk and Theologian
Interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer

Posted in "Follow Me", CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, MARTYRS, PRAYER WARRIORS, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY, The HEART, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 February – ‘ … All that is necessary … ‘ Matthew 6:7-15

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One Minute Reflection – 23 February – Tuesday of the First week of Lent, Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11, Psalms 34:4-5, 6-7,16-17, 18-19, Matthew 6:7-15 and the Memorial of St Polycarp Apostolic Father, Bishop and Martyr (c 69 – c 155)and St Willigis of Mainz (940-1011)

“This is how you are to pray.” – Matthew 6:9

REFLECTION – “Regarding other ceremonies in vocal prayers and other devotions, one should not become attached to any ceremonies or modes of prayer, other than those Christ taught us. When His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray [Lk 11:1], Christ obviously, as one Who knew so well His Father’s will, would have told them, all that was necessary, in order to obtain an answer from the Eternal Father and, in fact, He only taught them those seven petitions of the Our Father, which include all our spiritual and temporal necessities and He did not teach numerous other kinds of prayers and ceremonies.
At another time, rather, He told them, that in praying, they should not desire much speaking because our heavenly Father clearly knows our needs.

He only charged us with great insistence to persevere in prayer – that is, in the Our Father – teaching, in another place, that one should pray and never cease. [Lk.18:1]
He did not teach us a quantity of petitions but that these seven be repeated often and with fervour and care. For in these, as I say, are embodied everything that is God’s will and all that is fitting for us.
Accordingly, when His Majesty had recourse three times to the Eternal Father, all three times He prayed with the same petition of the Our Father, as the evangelists recount: “Father, if it cannot be but that I drink this chalice, may your will be done.” [Mt. 26:42]

And He taught us only two ceremonies for use in our prayers. Our prayer should be made either in the concealment of our secret chamber [Mt 6:6] where without noise and without telling anyone we can pray with a more perfect and pure heart … Or, if not in one’s chamber, in the solitary wilderness and at the best and most quiet time of night, as He did..” [Lk. 6:12] – St John of the Cross (1542-1591) – Carmelite, Doctor of the Church – The Ascent of Mount Carmel Bk.III, ch.44

PRAYER – Our Father Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Hail MARY!, MARIAN TITLES, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on PRAYER, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 October – “Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come” – Luke 11:2

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One Minute Reflection – 7 October – Wednesday of the Twenty Seventh week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14, Psalms 117:1, 2, Luke 11: 1-4 and The Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and the Month of the Most Holy Rosary

“He was praying in a certain place and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples. And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.” – Luke 11:1-2

REFLECTION – “If you wish to pray, you have need of God: “who gives prayer to the one who prays” (1 Sam 2:9). Invoke Him, then, saying: “Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come” (Mt 6:9-10) — that is, the Holy Spirit and Your only-begotten Son. For so He taught us, saying: “Worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (Jn 4:24). (…)

Whoever prays in spirit and truth is no longer dependent on created things when honouring the Creator but, praises Him for and in Himself. (…) The Holy Spirit, out of compassion for our weakness, comes to us (…). And if only He finds our intellect truly praying to Him, He enters it and puts to flight the whole array of thoughts and ideas circling within it and He arouses it to a longing for spiritual prayer. (…)

Know that the holy angels encourage us to pray and stand beside us, rejoicing and praying for us (cf. Tob 12:12). Therefore, if we are negligent and admit thoughts from the enemy, we greatly provoke the angels. For while they struggle hard on our behalf we do not even take the trouble to pray to God for ourselves but we despise their services to us, abandoning their Lord and God. (…)

Pray gently and calmly, sing with understanding and rhythm, then you will soar like a young eagle high in the heavens.” – Evagrius Ponticus (345-399) Desert Monk in Jerusalem and Egypt – Chapters on prayer, nos. 59, 60, 63, 81, 82; wrongly attributed to Neilos the ascetic

PRAYER – Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Teach us Almighty Father to pray, fill us with the love of Your Spirit and guide us always by the Word and Trust of our lives. With the Blessed Mother of God and of the Holy Rosary, we kneel in love and adoration. May her prayers lead us to heaven. Amen


Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

Our Morning Offering – 16 September – The Lord’s Prayer

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Our Morning Offering – 16 September – Wednesday of the Twenty Fourth week in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of Sts Cornelius & Cyprian

“So, my brothers, let us pray as God our Master has taught us.
To ask the Father, in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears,
is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.
Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.
Let the Son, who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.
We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father,
when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins,
let us use the words given by our Advocate.
He tells us –
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.
What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)
Bishop and Martyr, Father of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus
Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY EUCHARIST, The LORD'S PRAYER, Uncategorized

Quote/s of the Day – 18 June – ‘Our Father who art in heaven …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 18 June – Thursday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: Sirach 48:1-14 (1-15), Psalm 97:1-7, Matthew 6:7-15

“Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen”

Jesus
Matthew 6:9-13

the-lords-prayer-matthew-6-9-13-20-june-2019 and 18 june 2020

“So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears,
is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.
Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.
Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.
We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father,
when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins,
let us use the words given by our Advocate.
He tells us –
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.
What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?”

let-us-pray-as-god-our-master-has-taught-us-no 2 used on 16 sept 2019 memorial of st-cyprian-12-march-2019-lenten-thoughts-no-2- used again 20 june 2019

“As the Lord’s Prayer continues, we ask:
Give us this day our daily bread.
We can understand this petition in a spiritual
and in a literal sense.
For in the divine plan both senses
may help toward our salvation.
For Christ is the Bread of Life;
this Bread does not belong to everyone
but is ours alone.
When we say, our Father,
we understand that he is the Father
of those who know Him and believe in Him.
In the same way, we speak of our daily bread,
because Christ is the Bread of those who touch His body.”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”as the lord's prayer continues we ask, give us this day our daily bread - st cyoprian of carthage 18 june 2020

“For the author and giver of divine blessings
could not but be our teacher as well,
providing the words of this prayer,
as precepts of life,
for those disciples who believe in Him
and follow the way He taught in the flesh.
Through these words,
He has revealed the hidden treasures
of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3)
that exist in Him as pure form.
And, in all who offer this prayer,
He kindles the desire to enjoy such treasures.”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Monk and Theologian

Interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer

matthew-6-9-Pray then like this Our Father -for-the-author-and-giver-of-st-maximus-the-confessor-on-the-lords-prayer-20-june-2019 and adapted 18 june 2020

“You see, my children,
the Christian’s treasure is not on earth,
it is in heaven (Mt 6:20).
So our thinking must go to where our treasure is.
The human person has a beautiful task,
to pray and to love. 
You pray, you love –
that is the human being’s happiness on earth.”

the-human-person-has-a-beautiful-task-to-pray-and-to-love-st-john-vianey-23-may-2020 18 june 2020

“Prayer is nothing other than union with God.
… This union of God with his little creature
is something beautiful.
It is a happiness that we cannot understand.
We had deserved not to pray
but God, in His goodness, allows us to speak to Him.
Our prayer is incense,
which He receives with tremendous pleasure.”

St John-Marie Vianney (1786-1859)

Catechism on Prayer]

prayer is nothing other than unon with god - st joh n vianney 18 june 2020

“Father, hallowed be thy name.”

Luke 11:2hallowed be thy name - 10 oct 2018

“I have an instinct within me,
which leads me to rise and go to my Father,
to name the Name of His well-beloved Son
and having named it,
to place myself, unreservedly in His hands, saying
“if Thou, Lord, will mark iniquity, Lord,
who shall stand it?
For with Thee, there is merciful forgiveness.”

St John Henry Newman
(1801-1890)

To My Fatheri-have-an-instinct-within-me-which-leads-me-to-rise-and-go-to-my-father-john-henry-newman-9-oct-2019 - adapted 18 june 2020

“God sees us always, for He is everywhere.
…He sees clearly, everything which we think,
desire or do, even our most secret hidden actions.
Do we perfectly grasp this tremendous truth?
Are we aware of it, at every moment of our lives
and do we make it the guide for our conduct?
If we were to live continually in the Presence of God,
our lives would be angelic, rather than human,
for we would not allow ourselves to commit even the slightest sin,
nor to be guilty of the least thought, word or action,
which might offend Him.
The more we fail in our awareness of the Presence of God,
the more disordered our actions become.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)god-sees-us-always-bacci-30-march-2020 and 18 june 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FRIENDSHIP, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 June – Delighting the Heart of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 18 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Thursday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: Sirach 48:1-14 (1-15), Psalm 97:1-7, Matthew 6:7-15

“Do not be like them.   Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Pray then like this: Our Father … “ … Matthew 6:8-9

REFLECTION – “Engrave, pious soul, engrave this teaching deeply into your soul common to all masters of the spiritual life – after your infidelities you must turn back to God at once, even if you should fall a hundred times a day and, when you have done this, immediately set yourself at peace again. …   Between friends who love each other deeply, it is not uncommon, that a ruffled relationship is healed by humble apologies, which seals their friendship once more.   Act in such a way, that it is the same between yourself and God – use your faults to make your bond of love with Him even tighter.

It may happen to you, to be at a loss before a decision to be made, or advice to be given.   Here, too, don’t be afraid and do not neglect to act together with God as the faithful do amongst themselves.   In every event they consult among themselves – you, consult God, pray to Him to suggest the solution to you that will be most pleasing to Him, “Lord, set on my lips the word I am to speak and in my heart, the resolution to take!” (Jdt 9:18 Vg.)   Suggest to me what I have to do or answer and I shall do it.   “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10).

Again, give God the testimony of friendly trust by discussing with Him, not just about your personal affairs but also about those of your neighbour.   What pleasure you give to His heart if, sometimes even going so far as to forget your own worries, you call to His mind the interests of His glory and the misfortunes of others! …   “O God, so worthy of all love, make yourself known and loved.   May your kingdom be adored and blessed by all, may your love reign in every heart!”

Let us conclude.   If you wish to charm the loving Heart of your God, set yourself to talk to Him as often as you can and, after a fashion, continually, together with the fullest and most confident liberty.   He will not hold aloof from answering you and participating in the conversation on His part.” … St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor – What should one converse about with God?matthew 6 8-9 pray then like this - our father - if you wish to charm the loving heart of your god - st alphonsus liguori 18 june 2020

PRAYER – Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amenthe-our-father-matthew-6-7-15-lenten-reflection-20-feb-2018 and 18 june 2020

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 October – To My Father

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 9 October – Wednesday of the Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 11:1–4 and the Memorial of Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

“Father, hallowed be thy name.”…Luke 11:2hallowed-be-thy-name-10-oct-2018.jpg

REFLECTION – “Thou art all-holy, yet I come before Thee.   I place myself, under Thy pure and piercing eyes which look me through and through and discern every trace and every motion of evil within me.   Why do I do so?
First of all, for this reason.   To whom should I go?   What can I do better?   Who is there in the whole world that can help me?   Who that will care for me, or pity me, or have any kind thought of me, if I cannot obtain it of Thee?   I know Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity but I know again, that Thou art all-merciful and that Thou so sincerely desires my salvation, that Thou has died for me.   Therefore, though I am in a great strait, I will rather fall into Thy hands, than into those of any creature ….
I have an instinct within me, which leads me to rise and go to my Father, to name the Name of His well-beloved Son and having named it, to place myself, unreservedly in His hands, saying “if Thou, Lord, will mark iniquity, Lord, who shall stand it?   For with Thee, there is merciful forgiveness.” … Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890) To My Fatheri have an instinct within me which leads me to rise and go to my father john henry newman 9 oct 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.   Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.   Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.   And grant us Lord, our Father, that the prayers of Blessed John Henry Newman, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all our holy saints, may help us in our needs.   We make our prayer, through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.the lord's prayer - matthew 6 7-15 - and 9 oct 2019no 2 20 feb 2018 (1).jpg

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Thought for the Day – 20 June – Part One “Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer” St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)

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Thought for the Day – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15 – Part One “Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer” St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)

Our prayer is communal

Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258)
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his Treatise On the Lord’s Prayer

Above all, he who preaches peace and unity, did not want us to pray by ourselves in private or for ourselves alone.   We do not say “My Father, who art in heaven,” nor “Give me this day my daily bread.”   It is not for himself alone, that each person asks to be forgiven, not to be led into temptation or to be delivered from evil.   Rather, we pray in public as a community and not for one individual but for all.   For the people of God are all one.

God is then the teacher of harmony, peace and unity and desires each of us to pray for all men, even as he bore all men in Himself alone.   The three young men shut up in the furnace of fire observed this rule of prayer.   United in the bond of the Spirit, they uttered together the same prayer.   The witness of holy Scripture describes this incident for us, so that we might imitate them in our prayer.   Then all three began to sing in unison, blessing God.   Even though Christ had not yet taught them to pray, nevertheless, they spoke as with one voice.

It is for this reason, that their prayer was persuasive and efficacious.   For their simple and spiritual prayer of peace merited the presence of the Lord  . So too, after the ascension we find the apostles and the disciples praying together in this way.   Scripture relates – They all joined together in continuous prayer, with the women including Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers.   They all joined together in continuous prayer.  The urgency and the unity of their prayer declares that God, who fashions a bond of unity among those who live in His home, will admit into His divine home, for all eternity, only those who pray in unity.

My dear friends, the Lord’s Prayer contains many great mysteries of our faith.   In these few words there is great spiritual strength, for this summary of divine teaching contains all of our prayers and petitions.   And so, the Lord commands us, Pray then like this:  Our Father, who art in heaven.

We are new men, we have been reborn and restored to God by His grace.   We have already begun to be His sons and we can say “Father.”   John reminds us of this – He came to His own home and His own people did not receive Him.   But to all who received Him, who believe in His name, He gave the power to become children of God.   Profess your belief that you are sons of God by giving thanks.   Call upon God who is your Father in heaven.we pray in public as a community - st cyprian on the lord's prayer PART ONE - 20 june 2019.jpg

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Quote of the Day – 20 June – ‘…let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears!’

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Quote of the Day – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15

“So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears,
is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.
Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.
Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.
We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father,
when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins,
let us use the words given by our Advocate.
He tells us –
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.
What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?”

Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”let-us-pray-as-god-our-master-has-taught-us-st-cyprian-12-march-2019-lenten-thoughts-no-2- used again 20 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 June – Prayer is a petition for what God gives

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”…Matthew 6:7

REFLECTION – Prayer is a petition for what God gives – “The Lord’s prayer, as I have said, contains a petition for each of these things.   First, it speaks of the Father, His name and His kingdom.   Second, it shows us that the person who prays, is by grace the Son of this Father.   It asks that those in heaven and those on earth may be united in one will.   It tells us to ask for our daily bread.   It lays down that people should be reconciled with one another and it unites our nature with itself when we forgive and are forgiven, for then it is not split asunder by differences of will and purpose.   It teaches us to pray against entering into temptation, since this is the law of sin.   And it exhorts us to ask for deliverance from the evil one.

For the author and giver of divine blessings could not but be our teacher as well, providing the words of this prayer, as precepts of life, for those disciples who believe in Him and follow the way He taught in the flesh.   Through these words, He has revealed the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3) that exist in Him as pure form. And in all who offer this prayer, He kindles the desire to enjoy such treasures.

It is for this reason, I think, that Scripture calls this teaching “prayer”, since it contains petitions for the gifts that God gives to us by grace.   Our divinely inspired Fathers have explained prayer in a similar way, saying that prayer is petition for that which God naturally gives us, in the manner that is appropriate.”…St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Monk and Theologian – Interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer (Philokalia, Volume Two)matthew 6 7 your father knows before you ask - for the author and giver of - st maximus the confessor on the lord's prayer 20 june 2019

PRAYER – Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amenthe Lord's Prayer - matthew 6 9-13 - 20 june 2019

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2019, LENTEN THOUGHTS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER

Lenten Thoughts – 12 March – “On the Lord’s Prayer” – St Cyprian

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Lenten Thoughts – 12 March – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Saint Cyprian of Carthage
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”

Dear brothers, the commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God’s lessons, the foundations on which to build up hope, the supports for strengthening faith, the food that nourishes the heart.   They are the rudder for keeping us on the right course, the protection that keeps our salvation secure.   As they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lead safely to the kingdom of heaven.

God willed that many things should be said by the prophets, His servants and listened to by His people.   How much greater are the things spoken by the Son.   These are now witnessed to by the very word of God who spoke through the prophets.   The Word of God does not now command us to prepare the way for His coming – He comes in person and opens up the way for us and directs us toward it.   Before, we wandered in the darkness of death, aimlessly and blindly.   Now we are enlightened by the light of grace and are to keep to the highway of life, with the Lord to precede and direct us.

The Lord has given us many counsels and commandments to help us toward salvation. He has even given us a pattern of prayer, instructing us on how we are to pray.   He has given us life and with His accustomed generosity, He has also taught us how to pray.   He has made it easy for us to be heard as we pray to the Father in the words taught us by the Son.

He has already foretold that the hour was coming when true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth.   He fulfilled what He had promised before, so that we who have received the spirit and the truth through the holiness He has given us, may worship in truth and in the spirit through the prayer He has taught.

What prayer could be more a prayer in the spirit than the one given us by Christ, by whom the Holy Spirit was sent upon us?   What prayer could be more a prayer in the truth than the one spoken by the lips of the Son, who is Truth Himself?   It follows that to pray in any other way than the Son has taught us is not only the result of ignorance but of sin.   He himself has commanded it and has said – You reject the command of God, to set up your own tradition.

So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.   To ask the Father in words His Son has given us, to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.   Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.   Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.   We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father, when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins, let us use the words given by our Advocate.   He tells us – Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.   What more effective prayer could we then make, in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?let us pray as god our master has taught us - st cyprian 12 march 2019 lenten thoughts no 2