Friends should live together...

 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant 

does not know what his master is doing;

but I have called you friends, for all 

that I have heard from my Father I have 

made known to you. - John 15:15

 "It is the law of friendship that 

friends should live together. . . . 

Christ has not left us without His 

bodily presence in this our pilgrimage, but 

He joins us to Himself in this sacrament 

in the reality of His body and blood."

St Thomas Aquinas

Summa Theologiae, III q. 75, a. 1

Everything flows from the altar...

 For we do not preach ourselves, 

but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves 

as your servants for Jesus' sake. 

 2 Cor 4:5

Invoked for the healing of throat diseases, St. Blaise wrote:

“Father of mercy and God of all consolation, 

graciously look upon me and impart to me 

the blessing which flows from this 

Holy Sacrament [the Eucharist].  Overshadow 

me with Your loving kindness, and 

let this divine Mystery bear fruit in me." 

 St Blaise

Armenia + 316

Physician, Bishop, Martyr

Patron of Throat Diseases

and the Wool Trade

Feast Day – Feb 3

 Image:Cristi Lucaci | Shutterstock

At first he was a doctor who … Attended human life … And then he ministered to souls … In spiritual strife … A bishop in Armenia … St. Blaise acquired fame … By many healings he performed … In God’s most holy name … Especially the little child  … Who nearly choked to death … And through St Blaise’s prayers returned  … To free and normal breath … And that is why one day each year … His saintliness we note … And ask his prayers to guard us from … Diseases of the throat … And even more important to … St Blaise’s great renown … Is all the torture he endured … To earn his martyr’s crown. 

Protect our throats, St Blaise, from all … Those sicknesses today … And from the utterance of words … That we should never say … Lend wisdom to our voice, St Blaise … And pray that we may be … Forever steadfast in our faith … For God eternally.

From Poem Portraits of the Saints by James J Metcalfe (1956)

Click here: St. Blaise - YouTube (2 mins)

Today's blessing:  

Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, 

bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every 

disease of the throat and from every other illness. 

In the name of the Father, 

and of the Son, 

+ and of the Holy Spirit.

St Blaise, pray for us!

Present yourself: today and every day...

  Feast of the Presentation of the Lord*

February  2

Today the Church celebrates the Presentation of Jesus 

in the Temple at Jerusalem.  In that same spirit, 

we present ourselves today to the Lord, especially 

in the Mass. Present yourself to Jesus today. 
Receive His life-giving light and love.

Simeon and Anna:  Jan van 't Hoff

“Simeon gave back Jesus to His Mother,

he was only suffered to keep

Him for one moment.

But we are far happier than Simeon.

We may keep Him always if we will.

In Communion

He comes not only into our arms

but into our hearts.”- St John Vianney

 

This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day,

since the blessing and procession of candles

is included in today's liturgy. 

The symbolism of the candles is described

by Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, in his "Liturgical Year":

The mystery of today's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to Ivo of Chartres, the wax, which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, always considered as the emblem of virginity, signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by His conception or His birth, the spotless purity of His Blessed Mother. The same holy bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol of Jesus who came to enlighten our darkness. St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blessed Candle: the wax, the wick, and the flame. The wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the wick, which is within, is His Soul; the flame, which burns on top, is His divinity.

The candles kept by the faithful in their homes 

should be seen as a sign of Christ "the light of the world" 

and an expression of faith.
_____________________

From the Pieta prayer book:

to pray while burning a blessed candle

in one's home during a storm:

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace.+ God became man, + and the Word was made flesh.+ Christ was born of a Virgin.+ Christ suffered.+ Christ was crucified.+ Christ died.+ Christ rose from the dead.+ Christ ascended into Heaven.+ Christ conquers.+ Christ reigns.+ Christ commands.+ 

May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning. + Christ went through their midst in Peace, + and the Word was made Flesh.+ Christ is with us with Mary.+ Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Judah, the Root David, has won.+ Holy God+ Holy Powerful God! + Holy Immortal God! + Have mercy on us. Amen. 

__________________________________________

“Christ Himself says, ‘I am the light of the world.’ And we are the light, we ourselves, if we receive it from Him.... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine? ...The candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice." - Pope St Paul VI

___________________________________________

More on the Feast of the Presentation:

*The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord marks the time when Mary and Joseph first brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. According to Mosaic Law, after a time (40 days) of waiting, Mary was to bring an offering to the priest as purification after her having given birth (Leviticus 12:2-8). Hence, this feast is also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. It was also within the context of this event that the Holy Family meets Simeon and Anna, encounters which are recorded in Luke 2:22ff.
                The encounter with Simeon has given us one of the most beautiful and haunting canticles (songs) the Church has today. The words that Simeon spoke upon encountering the infant Jesus have been recited and sung through all the ages of the Church. The prayer is called the Nunc Dimittis, Latin words which comprise the first words of the prayer. Here is the complete text in English, taken from the Liturgy of the Hours:

    Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; 

Your word has been fulfilled.

My eyes have seen the salvation
 You have prepared in the sight of every people, 
A light to reveal you to the nations 

and the glory of your  people, Israel.   

To add to the haunting beauty of these words, the Nunc Dimittis is typically said at the office of Night Prayer, just before going to bed, when, as we lay ourselves down to rest, we also look ahead to our eternal rest. It’s a wonderful grown-up bedtime prayer! (Hat tip:  Patrick Conley)

Grace is dropping upon your soul...

"From the Tabernacle Jesus seems to say, 'Stay with Me

for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent'. 

This should urge me to come to visit Him often." 

 Fr William Doyle

 

 

"As regards prayer, you should try to follow 

the attraction of the Holy Spirit, for 

all souls are not led by the same path.  

It would not be well to spend all the time 

in vocal prayer, there should be some 

meditation, thought or contemplation. 

Try 'basking in the sun of God’s love,' 

that is, quietly kneeling before the Tabernacle, 

as you would sit enjoying the warm sunshine, 

not trying to do anything, except love Him; 

but realizing that, during all the time you are 

at His feet, more especially when dry and cold, 

grace is dropping down upon your soul

 and you are growing fast in holiness."

Fr William Doyle, SJ (+ 1917)

 

Make the time to visit this saintly site - 

one always leaves well fed!

Click here: Remembering Fr William Doyle SJ

Sacrifice's reward...

 “Trust all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

and to Mary, Help of Christians, 

and you will see what miracles are." - St John Bosco 

 

“Take great care to go to Holy Mass,

even on weekdays;  and for such a cause

be willing to put up with some inconvenience.

Thereby you will obtain

every kind of blessing from the Lord.”

St John Bosco
Priest, Educator, Founder of Salesian Society
Click here: Mission - Salesian of Don Bosco - Office of Vocation

 Italy ~ Aug 16, 1815 - Jan 31, 1888
"Give me souls. Take away the rest." - St John Bosco
Canonized Easter Sunday, 1934, and given the title: 

"Father and Teacher of Youth"

Feast Day - January 31

 

 

“When tempted, invoke your Angel. 

He is more eager to help you 

than you are to be helped! 

Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him:

He trembles and flees at the sight of 

your Guardian Angel.” - St. John Bosc0

_____________________

"Whatever you do, 

think of the Glory of God as 

your main goal."- St John Bosco

Click here: St. John Bosco - YouTube

Click here: St. John Bosco: Conquering Souls for Christ

The Life Story of St. John Bosco (Biography of Don Bosco) | Salesian Family of Don Bosco (incl free download of book)

St John Bosco, pray for us!

Venerable Mama Margaret is the beloved and holy mother of St John Bosco. The sanctity and holiness of St John Bosco was first nurtured by a mother's prayer, a mother's example.  From Mama Margaret to her son:

"When you came into the world I consecrated you to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When you began your studies, I inculcated this devotion in you. Now I want you to belong totally to her. Make your companions those who are devoted to Mary; and if you reach ordination, never cease to inculcate and spread this devotion."

"I have nothing to say regarding your vocation, except that you should do what God inspires you to do. Do not be concerned on my behalf. You owe me nothing. Never forget that I was born in poor circumstances, have lived in poverty all my life; and I am happy to die poor; and I say this seriously to you: if you ever become  wealthy, I shall never set foot on your doorstep."

"Dear John, you have taken the priestly habit and I am as happy as any mother could be. But never forget that it is not the habit that matters, but the effort to progress in virtue. If you ever come to have doubts about your vocation, be sure you never dishonor that priestly garb. Put it aside immediately. I would rather a poor peasant son than a priest who neglected his sacred calling".

 

"John, you are now a priest; you will be saying Mass; so from henceforth you will be closer to Jesus. Remember that to begin to celebrate Mass means also to begin to suffer. You will not realize this immediately, but little by little you will see that what your mother has told you is the truth."