Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MIRACLES, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 24 August – ‘The most extraordinary Miracle of history?!

Quote/s of the Day – 24 August – St Bartholomew the Apostle and Martyr

Here is a true child
of Israel.
There is no guile
in him.

John 1:47

Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are
the Son of God!
You are the
King of Israel!

John 1:49

You are the light of the world,
you are the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:14

Like peaceful conquerors,
without any human weapons
but backed by by the power of God,
they divided the world amongst themselves,
so that they might win it for Christ!
The Roman Empire was small to them.
They travelled, moreover,
to the distant shores of Ethiopia and India,
where the Eagle of Rome had never found its way!
Surely, this is the most extraordinary Miracle of history?!

The Holy Spirit accomplished that,
which human armies had never been able to do,
save in part, or for a limited period of time.
In this achievement,
He used the weakest possible human means,
namely, twelve poor fishermen!
The earthly Empire of Rome, passed away
but the Spiritual domain of Christ still remains,
with its centre at Rome,
as the only true Light, the only unfailing hope and the only pledge of salvation for individuals and nations.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith

O Fathers of our ancient faith,
With all the heav’n, we sing your fame
Whose sound went forth in all the earth
To tell of Christ and bless His Name.

You took the Gospel to the poor,
The Word of God alight in you,
Which in our day is told again,
That timeless Word, forever new.

You told of God, Who died for us
And out of death triumphant rose,
Who gave the Truth which made us free
and changeless through the ages goes.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Whose gift is faith that never dies,
A light in darkness now, until
The Day-Star in our hearts arise.

O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office it is sung at Morning Prayer in the Common of Apostles. It is set to the anonymous tune associated with the 7th century Latin hymn, Creator Alme Siderum.

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Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 July – Twelve

One Minute Reflection – 8 July – “Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Wednesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year A, Readings: Hosea 10:1-37-812Psalm 105:2-7Matthew 10:1-7

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother … …Matthew 10:2

REFLECTION – “The order in which the Apostles were divided and the distinction of each one were given by Him Who plumbs the depths of the heart.   The first to be recorded is Simon called Peter (to distinguish him from the other Simon, who is called the Cananaean from the village of Cana in Galilee, where the Lord turned the water into wine). He also calls James, the son of Zebedee because he is followed by another James, the son of Alphaeus.   And He associates the apostles by pairs.   He joins Peter and Andrew as brothers not so much in the flesh as in the spirit;  James and John, who left behind their natural father and followed the true Father;  Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican.   The other Evangelists, in listing the names, put Matthew first and then Thomas, nor do they mention the name publican, lest in recalling his former way of life they seem to insult the Evangelist.   But Matthew, as we said before, places himself after Thomas and calls himself a publican so that “where sin abounded, grace has abounded even more.”

Simon the Cananaean is the one whom another Evangelist calls the Zealot.   In fact, Cana interpreted means “zeal.”   Church history relates that the apostle Thaddaeus was sent to Edessa, Abgarum in the region of Osroene.   The person whom Luke the Evangelist calls Jude the brother of James, elsewhere called Lebbaeus, which interpreted means “little heart,” is believed to have been referred to by three names. Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee (called sons of thunder) were named for their strength of mind and great faith.   Judas Iscariot took his name either from his hometown, or from the tribe of Issachar.   By a certain prophecy he was born in condemnation of himself, for Issachar interpreted means “reward,” as to signify the price of the traitor.” … St Jerome (343-420) – Father & Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Matthew, 1.)matthew-10-2-the-names-of-the-12-apostles-are-these-st-jerome-10-july-2019 and 8 july 2020

PRAYER – Holy God and Almighty Father, we are the disciples of Your Son as we follow Him home to You, grant us we pray, the strength and love to imitate Him in all things and to daily, pick up our cross with joy and commitment.   May the Blessed Virgin, be a constant protection and assistance in our times of struggle and may all your angels and saints and martyrs, pray for us, through our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God for always and forever, amen.blessed virgin mother pray for us 26 may 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on MISSION, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 January – May I know You and make You known.

One Minute Reflection – 24 January – Friday of the Second week in Ordinary Time, Year A and the Memorial of St Francis De Sales OFM Cap (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church ” – Readings: 1 Samuel 24:2-20 (3-21), Psalm 57:2-4, 6, 11, Mark 3:13-19

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him … Mark 3:14

REFLECTION – “Jesus calls those he wanted.    Jesus chooses.   They come to him.   He calls the Twelve to be with Him.   While they are with Him, listening to Him teach, witnessing the miracles He works, living with Him, the Twelve get to know Him, first hand.
They KNOW Jesus, not just about Jesus.
Jesus consecrates them as He takes them apart – forming them to carry on and continue His work.
Having consecrated them – he commissions them, as He sends them forth to preach the good news.
Jesus chooses.
Jesus consecrates.
Jesus commissions.
This explains the dynamics of genuine discipleship.
The disciple must learn TO BE WITH Jesus, before he attempts TO DO ANYTHING FOR Jesus.
We can be Apostles – only – if we have first been disciples WITH Him.” … Msgr Alex Rebello CMF (Diocese Wrexham, Wales) Claretian Priestmark 3 14 he appointed twelve - jesus chooses msgr rebello bible diary 24 jan 2020

PRAYER – “O my God and my Father, may I know You and make You know, love You and make You loved, serve You and make Your served, praise You and make all creatures, praise You.” [St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870)] Lord God, true light and creator of light, grant us the grace to see clearly by the light who is Light, Your only Son. Lead us in His path and send us Your Spirit. Grant us the strength to grow in holiness so that our struggle against the powers of darkness may we a victory over temptation. May the intercession of the master of spirituality, St Francis de Sales, help us and protect us. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.may I know you and make you known - st anthony mary claret 24 oct 2019

st-francis-de-sales-pray-for-us-1-2017.