Quote/s of the Day – 21 April – Saturday of the Third Week of Eastertide, the Memorial of St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church and of St Conrad of Parzham OFM Cap. (1818-1894)

Quote/s of the Day – 21 April – Saturday of the Third Week of Eastertide, the Memorial of St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church and of St Conrad of Parzham OFM Cap. (1818-1894)

“Remove grace
and you have nothing
whereby to be saved.
Remove free will
and you have nothing
that could be saved.”

“God has promised pardon
to him that repents
but he has not promised repentance
to him that sins.”

St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church

Prayer of Adoration and Repentance/Night Prayer
By St Conrad of Parzham (1818-1894)

I have come to spend
a few moments with You, O Jesus
and in spirit I prostrate myself in the dust
before Your Holy Tabernacle to adore You,
my Lord and God, in deepest humility.
Once more, a day has come to its close, dear Jesus,
another day which brings me nearer to the grave
and my beloved heavenly home.
Once more, O Jesus, my heart longs for You,
the true Bread of Life, which contains
all sweetness and relish.
O my Jesus,
mercifully grant me pardon for the faults
and ingratitude of this day
and come to me,
to refresh my poor heart which longs for You.
As the heart pants for the waters,
as the parched earth longs for the dew of heaven,
even so does my poor heart long for You,
You Fount of Life.
I love You, O Jesus,
I hope in You,
I love You
and out of love for You,
I regret sincerely all my sins.
May Your peace and Your benediction be mine,
now and always and for all eternity.
Amen

St Conrad of Parzham (1818-1894)

 

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Our Morning Offering – 21 April – Saturday of the Third Week of Eastertide and the Memorial of St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church

Our Morning Offering – 21 April – Saturday of the Third Week of Eastertide and the Memorial of St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church

Prayer for the Grace to Love God
By St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church

We love You, O God
and desire to love You more and more.
Grant that we may love You
as we wish to love You
and as we should love You.
O dearest Friend
who has loved us so deeply and redeemed us;
come and take Your place in our hearts.
Watch over our lips, our steps and our deeds
and we no longer fear for soul and body.
Yes, give us love, most precious of gifts,
which knows no enemies.
Give our hearts that pure love
borne of Your love for us,
that we may love others as You love us.
O most loving Father of Jesus Christ
from whom all love flows,
grant that our hearts, frozen in sin
and grown cold toward You,
may be warmed in the divine glow.
Help and bless us in Your Son.
O blessed Lord,
You have commanded us to love one another,
give us the grace that, as we have received
Your unmerited favours,
we may love all persons in You and for You.
We implore your clemency for all people
but particularly for our friends
whom You have given us.
Love them, Source of Love and instill in them
a thorough love of Yourself,
that they may seek, utter and do nothing
save what is pleasing to You.
Amen

Memorials of the Saints – 21 April

St Anselm (of Canterbury) (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial)
Holy Infant of Good Health (Mexico)
—
St Abdechalas
St Anastasius I of Antioch
St Anastasius of Sinai
St Apollo of Nicomedia
St Apollonius the Apologist
St Arator of Alexandria
St Beuno Gasulsych
St Conrad of Parzham (1818-1894)

St Crotates of Nicomedia
St Cyprian of Brescia
St Felix of Alexandria
St Fortunatus of Alexandria
St Frodulphus
St Isacius of Nicomedia
Bl John Saziari
St Maelrubba of Applecross
St Roman Adame Rosales
St Silvius of Alexandria
St Simeon of Ctesiphon
St Vitalis of Alexandria
Bl Vitaliy Bayrak
Bl Wolbodó of Liège

Thought for the Day – 20 April – Friday of the Third Week of Eastertide

Thought for the Day – 20 April – Friday of the Third Week of Eastertide

St Alphonsus Liguori’s
For Attaining Perfection in the Love of Jesus Christ
Part One

1.   To desire ardently to increase in the love of Jesus Christ

2.   To make acts of love toward Jesus Christ.

Immediately on waking and before going to sleep,

make an act of love, seeking always to unite your own will

to the will of Jesus Christ.

3.   Often to meditate on His Passion.

4.   Always to ask Jesus Christ for His love.

5.   To communicate often and many times in the day to make spiritual communions.

6. Often to visit the Most Holy Sacrament.

7.   Every morning to receive from the hands of Jesus Christ Himself your own cross.

8.   To desire Paradise and Death in order to be able to love Jesus Christ perfectly and for all eternity.

9.   Often to speak of the love of Jesus Christ.

10.   To accept contradictions for the love of Jesus Christ.

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor

Quote/s of the Day – 20 April – Friday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Today’s Gospel: John 6:52-59

Quote/s of the Day – 20 April – Friday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Today’s Gospel: John 6:52-59

“Speaking of: The Holy Eucharist”

“You can call happy those who saw Him.
But, come to the altar and
you will see Him,
you will touch Him,
you will give to Him holy kisses,
you will wash Him with your tears,
you will carry Him within you
like Mary Most Holy.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Doctor of the Church

“The Blessed Eucharist is the perfect Sacrament
of the Lord’s Passion, since
It contains Christ Himself and his Passion.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Angelic Doctor

“The last degree of love
is when He gave Himself to us
to be our Food;
because He gave Himself to be
united with us in every way.” 

St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)

“Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament
is the greatest after the sacraments,
the one dearest to God
and the one most helpful to us.”

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor

“Upon receiving Holy Communion,
the Adorable Blood of Jesus Christ
really flows in our veins and His Flesh
is really blended with ours.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

“I urge you with all the strength of my soul
to approach the Eucharistic Table
as often as possible.
Feed on this Bread of the Angels from which
you will draw the strength to fight inner struggles.”

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925)

Thought for the Day – 18 April – Wednesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66:1-7, John 6:35-40

Thought for the Day – 18 April – Wednesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66:1-7, John 6:35-40

St John Chrysostom (347-407) – Sermon 45 on the Gospel of John – John 6:40

And I will raise him up at the last day.   Why does He continually dwell upon the Resurrection?   Is it that men may not judge of God’s providence by present things alone; that if they enjoy not results here, they become not on that account desponding but wait for the things that are to come and that they may not, because their sins are not punished for the present, despise Him, but look for another life.

Now those men gained nothing but let us take pains to gain by having the Resurrection continually sounded in our ears;  and if we desire to be grasping, or to steal, or to do any wrong thing, let us straightway take into our thoughts that Day, let us picture to ourselves the Judgment-seat, for such reflections will check the evil impulse more strongly than any bit.   Let us continually say to others and to ourselves, There is a resurrection, and a fearful tribunal awaits us.

If we see any man insolent and puffed up with the good things of his world, let us make the same remark to him and show him that all those things abide here:  and if we observe another grieving and impatient, let us say the same to him and point out to him that his sorrows shall have an end;  if we see one careless and dissipated, let us say the same charm over him and show that for his carelessness he must render account.

This saying is able more than any other remedy to heal our souls.   For there is a Resurrection and that Resurrection is at our doors, not afar off, nor at a distance.  For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come and will not tarry. Hebrews 10:37   And again, We must all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ 2 Corinthians 5:10;   that is, both bad and good, the one to be shamed in sight of all, the other in sight of all to be made more glorious.   For as they who judge here, punish the wicked and honour the good publicly, so too will it be there, that the one sort may have the greater shame and the other more conspicuous glory.

Let us picture these things to ourselves every day.  If we are ever revolving them, no care for present things will be able to sting us.   For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18   Continually let us say to ourselves and to others, There is a Resurrection, and a Judgement and a scrutiny of our actions;  and let as many as deem that there is such a thing as fate repeat this and they shall straightway be delivered from the rottenness of their malady;  for if there is a Resurrection, and a Judgement, there is no fate, though they bring ten thousand arguments and choke themselves to prove it.

But I am ashamed to be teaching Christians concerning the Resurrection:  for he that needs to learn that there is a Resurrection and who has not firmly persuaded himself that the affairs of this world go not on by fate and without design and as chance will have them, can be no Christian.

Wherefore, I exhort and beseech you, that we cleanse ourselves from all wickedness and do all in our power to obtain pardon and excuse in that Day….For a man cannot possibly live a pure life without believing in the Resurrection!

One Minute Reflection – 18 April – Wednesday of the Third Week of Eastertide

One Minute Reflection – 18 April – Wednesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66:1-7, John 6:35-40

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;  sing the glory of his name;  give to him glorious praise!...Psalm 66:1-3

REFLECTION – “My dear brothers and sons, fruit of the true faith and holy seed of heaven, all you who have been born again in Christ and whose life is from above, listen to me;  or rather, listen to the Holy Spirit saying through me:  Sing to the Lord a new song.   Look, you tell me, I am singing.   Yes indeed, you are singing;  you are singing clearly, I can hear you.   But make sure that your life does not contradict your words. Sing with your voices, your hearts, your lips and your lives:  Sing to the Lord a new song’.
Now it is your unquestioned desire to sing of Him whom you love but you ask me how to sing His praises.   You have heard the words:  Sing to the Lord a new song and you wish to know what praises to sing.   The answer is:  His praise is in the assembly of the saints;  it is in the singers themselves.   If you desire to praise Him, then live what you express.   Live good lives and you yourselves, will be His praise.”…St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of Grace

PRAYER – God and Father, we honour the yearly feast of Your Son’s Resurrection by celebrating it in the sacramental mystery.   Give us likewise the grace, to rejoice at all times, with all the saints, until He comes in glory.   Through our Lord Jesus, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Thought for the Day – Tuesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Today’s Gospel: John 6:30–35 & the Memorial of Bl Andrés Hibernón Real O.F.M. (1534-1602) ‘Apostle of Eucharistic Adoration’

Thought for the Day – – Tuesday of the Third Week of Eastertide – Today’s Gospel:  John 6:30–35 & the Memorial of Bl Andrés Hibernón Real O.F.M. (1534-1602) ) ‘Apostle of Eucharistic Adoration’

Meditation on the Blessed Sacrament by St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)  – Most Zealous Doctor

Meditation, wherever it is made,
pleases God.
But it seems that Jesus,
especially delights in prayer,
made before the Blessed Sacrament.
Did he not leave Himself for us
in this sacrament to be food for our spirit
and to be present for all who seek Him?

We cannot all make pilgrimages
to the places where Jesus lived
but the Lord who died for us
on the cross of Calvary
now dwells in person,
in the tabernacle – waiting.

We need not await a command
as we would of an earthly king,
to enter His presence –
He is waiting for us
to lay before Him our wants
and to seek His help.
So that we may taste
the sweetness of His presence,
it is good to empty ourselves
of earthly desires.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46: 10

What pleasure is found in spending
a long time before the altar
where the Lord dwells!

What heavenly sweetness the Lord
allows us to taste and enjoy!

What should we do in the presence
of the Lord in the Eucharist?

We should stay there, not to enjoy
sweetness and consolation
but to give pleasure to God
by making acts of love, saying

O my God, I love

and desire nothing but You.

Grant that I may always love You;

then do with me and all I possess,

as You please.

These acts of love,
even when made without sensible delight,
please god greatly.
For good people often have to bear
with distractions and dryness in prayer.

As for distractions,
of these we must not make much account.
It is enough to drive them away
when they come.
Do not on this account leave off prayer.

Saint Francis de Sales said:

“If, in meditation, we do nothing
but drive away distractions,
our meditation would be of great profit.”

And as for dryness:
this is the greatest pain
for those given to prayer,
for we find ourselves without
any sensible desire of loving God.
Added to this, at times, is the fear
of being separated from God
because of our sins.
There is the feeling
of being in utter darkness
without any way of escape.
At such times let us unite our desolation
with that which Jesus suffered on the cross.

If we can say nothing else,
it is enough to say,
at least by an act of the will:

My God, I desire to love You.
Have pity on me;
Leave me not.

PRAYER of one in deep affliction.

My God, I love You tenderly
though I feel You far away.
I will seek You ceaselessly
lest from You I stray.
AMEN

 

Quotes of the Day – 15 April – The Third Sunday of Easter Year B “Speaking of the Holy Mass”

Quotes of the Day – 15 April – The Third Sunday of Easter Year B

“Speaking of the Holy Mass”

“Recognise in this bread what hung on the cross
and in this chalice what flowed from His side…
whatever was in many and varied ways
announced beforehand in the sacrifices
of the Old Testament
pertains to this one sacrifice
which is revealed in the New Testament.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor

“Jesus taught a new sacrifice
which the Church received
from the Apostles and offers
throughout the whole world.”

St Irenaeus (130-202) Father of the Church

“All the good works in the world
are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
because they are the works of men – 
but the Mass is the work of God.
Martyrdom is nothing in comparison,
for it is but the sacrifice of man to God – 
but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

“Many Christians take their time
and have leisure enough in their social life
(no hurry here).
They are leisurely, too, in their professional activities,
at table and recreation (no hurry here either).
But isn’t it strange, how those same Christians.
find themselves in such a rush
and want to hurry the priest,
in their anxiety to shorten the time devoted
to the most holy sacrifice of the altar?“

St Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975)

 

 

Our Morning Offering – 13 April 2017 – Friday of the Second Week of Eastertide

Our Morning Offering – 13 April 2017 – Friday of the Second Week of Eastertide

O Lord My God
St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church

O Lord my God.
Teach my heart this day
where and how to find You.
You have made me and re-made me,
and You have bestowed on me
all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know You.
I have not yet done
that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek You,
for I cannot seek You
unless You teach me,
or find You
unless You show yourself to me.
Let me seek You in my desire;
let me desire You in my seeking.
Let me find You by loving You;
let me love You when I find You.
Amen