The greatest love story...

"All that we do is a means to an end, 

but love is an end in itself,

because God is love." - St Teresa Benedicta 

"The greatest love story

of all time

is contained

in a small white host."

Ven Fulton J Sheen

____________________

Sts Cyril and Methodius

9th century

Byzantine Greek brothers

Bishops, missionaries

"Apostles to the Slavs"

Translated Liturgy into Slavic language

using an alphabet devised by Cyril

Feast Day - February 14 

Click here: Discovering our Saint's - Sts. Cyril and Methodius (2 mins)

Sts Cyril and Methodius, pray for us!

Also remembering...

St. Valentine of Rome (c. 270) was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emporer Claudius II. Not much is known about his life with certainty, but according to legend he gave aid to martyrs imprisoned for their faith, and it was for this work, along with his own Christian beliefs, that he was arrested. One account has it that the emperor banned all marriages and engagements in Rome believing this was the reason Roman men were unwilling to serve in the army. Valentine defied this unjust decree and continued to perform marriages for lovers in secret. He was arrested, and while in prison he restored sight to the jailer's blind daughter, causing the jailer and his entire extended family, all 46 of them, to immediately convert to Christianity. Upon hearing this, Emperor Claudius II ordered his execution. St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine." He was beheaded on February 14th. St. Valentine is the patron saint of bee keepers, betrothed and engaged couples, lovers, love, happy marriages, and young people. His feast day is February 14th.

Click here: Saint Valentine - YouTube (6 mins)

St Valentine, pray for us!

Letting go of distractions...

 

"Anytime you come into the Eucharistic presence of the Lord and 

find that you are distracted and anxious about situations in your life, 
you can begin your prayer time with a litany of mercy 
as a way of letting go of all these thoughts.
How?  Let me suggest a method that has helped me. 

Simply begin asking the Holy Spirit to pray in you,
 and then respond to each of the distractions and anxieties – 
from whatever source – with short prayers 
such as: ‘Jesus, mercy’ or ‘Jesus, I trust in You.’
Imagine that each of the distractions, anxieties, fears, or hurts 
is a slide-show.  Project one ‘slide’ at a time on the wall 
and pray your response, and then move on to the next ‘slide.’ 
You will be surprised when suddenly you have run through 
all your slides and are at peace in the presence of the Lord.” 
Fr George W Kosicki, CSB 

Be big-hearted...

"Be 'big-hearted' enough in prayer

to embrace everyone in the world."

Venerable Mother Thecla Merlo

Francisco de Herrera

"O living Host,

my one and only Strength,

Fountain of love and mercy,

embrace the whole world,

fortify those who are weak."

St Faustina Kowalska 

(Diary, 223)

Above all: centers of devotion to the Eucharist...

 Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes*

February 11

34th World Day of the Sick

Pope Leo's message for World Day of the Sick: 2026

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/01/20/260120d.html

 Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, France

  

“All the shrines of Mary,

scattered throughout the world,

have become above all centers 

of devotion to the Eucharist,

as if the Mother of Jesus had 

appeared, here or there, in order to 

lead the faithful to the adoration 

and love of her blessed Son.”

Pope St John XXIII
 ______________________________

*Lourdes, France, has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, 

but even more of faith.  It is a continuation of Jesus’ 

healing miracles. Many who visit Lourdes return home with 

renewed faith and a readiness to more generously serve God. 

There still may be people who doubt the apparitions of Lourdes.  

Perhaps the best that can be said are the words

 that introduce the film, Song of Bernadette:

"For those who believe in God, 

no explanation is necessary.

For those who do not believe, 

no explanation is possible."

____________________________________

Click here: Our Lady of Lourdes - YouTube (2 mins)

Click here: Our Lady of Lourdes

__________________________

Only known picture of St Bernadette at the Grotto

(taken after the apparitions of 1858)

Our Lady of Lourdes, 
pray for us, 
and especially the sick and  suffering!

From Thee - strength and zeal...

Ah! Hasten, Lord, make no delay!
Come, wed my heart this very day,
That thus united here below,
I may not fear eternal woe.  
From A Hymn to Jesus

“From the Eucharist comes strength 
to live the Christian life 
and zeal to share that life 
with others."- St John Paul II

St Scholastica
Italy ~ 480-547
Benedictine Abbess
Twin sister of St Benedict
Feast Day – February 10

 

"She was able to do more because she loved more." 

St Gregory the Great in

regarding St Scholastica

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

St Scholastica, pray for us!

    St Scholastica, twin sister of St Benedict of Nursia who founded of the Benedictine order, was consecrated to God at a very early age but probably continued to live in her parents' home. It is said that she was as devoted to Jesus as she was to her brother. So, when Benedict established his monastery at Monte Cassino, Scholastica founded a convent in nearby Plombariola, about five miles south of Monte Cassino. The convent is said to have been under the direction of her brother, thus she is regarded as the first Benedictine nun.
    The siblings were quite close. The respective rules of their houses proscribed either entering the other's monastery. According to Saint Gregory, they met once a year at a house near Monte Cassino monastery to confer on spiritual matters, and were eventually buried together, probably in the same grave. Saint Gregory says, "so death did not separate the bodies of these two, whose minds had ever been united in the Lord."
    Saint Gregory tells the charming story of the last meeting of the two saints on earth. Scholastica and Benedict had spent the day in the "mutual comfort of heavenly talk" and with nightfall approaching, Benedict prepared to leave. Scholastica, having a presentiment that it would be their last opportunity to see each other alive, asked him to spend the evening in conversation. Benedict sternly refused because he did not wish to break his own rule by spending a night away from Monte Cassino. Thereupon, Scholastica cried openly, laid her head upon the table, and prayed that God would intercede for her. As she did so, a sudden storm arose. The violent rain and hail came in such a torrential downpour that Benedict and his companions were unable to depart.  
    "May Almighty God forgive you, sister" said Benedict, "for what you have done." "I asked a favor of you," Scholastica replied simply, "and you refused it. I asked it of God, and He has granted it!"Just after his return to Monte Cassino, Benedict saw a vision of Scholastica's soul departing her body, ascending to heaven in the form of a dove. She died three days after their last meeting. He placed her body in the tomb he had prepared for himself, and arranged for his own to be placed there after his death. 
    From the Dialogues of Saint Gregory the Great

Prayer in Honor of Saint Scholastica 

O God, to show us where innocence leads, you made the soul of your virgin Saint Scholastica soar to heaven like a dove in flight. Grant through her merits and her prayers that we may so live in innocence as to attain to joys everlasting. This we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.