Friday, September 30, 2016

He provides, we trust...

"Catch, then, O catch the transient hour;
Improve each moment as it flies!" - St. Jerome



"If Christ did not want to dismiss the Jews
without food in the desert for fear
that they would collapse on the way,
it was to teach us that it is
dangerous to try to get to heaven
without the Bread of Heaven." ~ St Jerome

 

St Jerome

c. 331- 420
Early Church Father, Doctor of the Church 
Brilliant and thorough scholar and writer 
Translated Scripture into Latin (Vulgate
Consultant to Popes and Bishops 
FEAST DAY - September 30


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Bartolomeo Cavarozzi ~ St Jerome

 "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." - St Jerome

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

St Jerome, pray for us!

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Guardians of power and love...

Feast of Archangels
St Michael~St Gabriel~St Raphael
September 29



"O, angelic spirits, 
who guard our tabernacles, wherein lies 
the adorable treasure of the Holy Eucharist,
defend it from profanation 
and preserve it for our love."

St Josemaria Escriva 


"Michael and his Angels battled against the dragon...
Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out."
Revelation 12:7, 9


The Three Archangels and Tobias, Francesco Botticini, 1470

A Sermon of Pope Saint Gregory 
From the Third Nocturne of Matins of the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

We speak of nine orders of Angels, because we know, by the testimony of Holy Scripture, that there are the following: Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. It must be realized that "Angel" is the name of their office, not of their nature. For the holy Spirits of the heavenly homeland are always Spirits, but they cannot always be called Angels; they are Angels only when they are announcing something. Those who announce less important things are called Angels, and those who announce the highest things are called Archangels. And so not any Angel but the Archangel Gabriel was sent to Mary; for this ministry, it was fitting to have the highest Angel, since he was to announce the greatest news of all. These Archangels are also given special names to describe their particular virtue. For Michael means "Who is like to God?" Gabriel means "Strength of God," and Raphael "Medicine of God."
Whenever something is to be done needing great power, Michael is sent forth so that from his action and his name we may understand that no one can do what God can do. Hence that old enemy who through pride desired to be like God is shown at the end of the world, left to his own strength and about to undergo the final punishment, as destined to fight with Michael the Archangel, as John says, "There was a battle with Michael the Archangel." Similarly, Gabriel was sent to Mary; he who is called "Strength of God" came to announce Him who deigned to appear in humility to conquer the powers of the air. And Raphael is interpreted, as we said, "Medicine of God," for when he touched the eyes of Tobias to do the work of healing, he dispelled the "night of his blindness."

St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael, pray for us
and defend us in battle!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

What could it mean? ...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory,
glory as of the only Son  from the father. - John 1:14



“A cloud of incense was rising on high; 
the people suddenly all bowed low; what could it mean?

The truth flashed on him, fearfully yet sweetly;
it was the Blessed Sacrament - it was the Lord 
Incarnate who was on the altar, who had come
to visit and bless His people.

It was the Great Presence, which makes a Catholic Church
different from every other place in the world,
which makes it, as no other place can be – holy.”


Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman
Loss and Gain:  The Story of a Convert

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Going to Jesus from Jesus...

St Vincent de Paul was praying before the Eucharist one time and,
after a man told him about a poor person on the street needing help,
Vincent said:

"I am going to Jesus from Jesus."



Remembering ....St Vincent de Paul
1580-1660 ~ France
Priest, Co-Founder of Daughters of Charity
Founder - Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians)
Patron - Charitable societies*
*Society of St. Vincent de Paul, founded 1833 
by devotee, Blessed Frederic Ozanam
Incorrupt
FEAST DAY - September 27

 

"We should take as a maxim never to be surprised at current difficulties, 
no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience 
we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything."
-  St. Vincent de Paul


St Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

Monday, September 26, 2016

A Child's Wish (poem) ...

 
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A Child's Wish

I wish I were the little key
That locks Love's Captive in,
And lets Him out to go and free
A sinful heart from sin.
 
I wish I were the little bell
that tinkles for the Host
When God comes down each day to dwell
With hearts He loves the most.
 
I wish I were the chalice fair
That holds the Blood of Love,
When every flash lights holy prayer
Upon its way above.
 
I wish I were the little flower
So near the Host's sweet face,
Or like the light that half an hour
Burned on the shrine of grace.
 
I wish I were the altar where
As on His mother's breast
Christ nestles, like a child, fore'er
In Eucharistic rest.
 
But oh, my God, I wish the most
That my poor heart may be
A home all holy for each Host
That comes in love to me.
 
Abram J Ryan
(1839-1886)
 

Painting above: Child in prayer by Roberto Ferruzzi

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Joining heavenly hosts...

"The heavens open and multitude of angels
come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." - St Gregory

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"Go to Jesus.
He loves you and is waiting for you
to give you many graces.
He is on the altar surrounded
by angels adoring and praying.
 
Let them make some room for you
and join them in doing what they do."
 
St Mary Joseph Rosello (+1888)
Founder: Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Fruitful remedy...

"God did not tell us to follow Him
because He needed our help, 
but because He knew that loving Him
would make us whole."- Irenaeus of Lyons  
    
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"When the Sisters are exhausted,
up to their eyes in work;
when all seems to go awry,
they spend an hour in prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament.

This practice has never failed to bear fruit.
They experience peace and strength."

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Friday, September 23, 2016

Perfumes of strength...

  "Protected, covered and defended by the Presence of this dear Lord,
let us stand before Him in the Holy Eucharist
and pray with the humility of the creature
and the confidence and freedom of the child." - St Padre Pio


"We must always have courage,
and if some spiritual languor comes upon us,
let us run to the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,
and let us place ourselves
in the midst of the heavenly perfumes,
and we will undoubtedly regain our strength."


St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Priest, Stigmatist, Mystic
Italy  ~ 1887-1968
Patron of Eucharistic Adorers
Feast Day - Sept. 23

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When I am close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, 
I feel as if my heart is bursting out of my chest.” ~ St Padre Pio

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Go... listen... love...

"If we are to know the Lord, we must go to Him. 
Listen to Him in silence before the Tabernacle
and approach Him in the Sacraments." - Pope Francis
 
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Morning News ~ Francis Luis Mora
 
"Adore and visit Jesus, abandoned and 
forsaken by men in His Sacrament of Love.
Man has time for everything
except for visits to His Lord and God, Who is waiting
and longing for us in the Blessed Sacrament.
The streets and places of entertainment
are filled with people;
the House of God is deserted.  Ah!  Poor Jesus..."
 
St Peter Julian Eymard

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Always renewed...

For I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners, says the Lord. - Matt 9:13

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Prayer after Communion (Today’s Liturgy)

Sharing in that saving joy, O Lord,
with which Saint Matthew welcomed the Savior
as a guest in his home, we pray: grant that we may always
be renewed by the food we receive from Christ,
who came to call not the just, but sinners to salvation.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Remembering... St Matthew
Nee - Capernaum
"And he got up and followed Him" (Mt 9:9b) ...
"leaving everything behind" (Lk 5:28)
Apostle and Evangelist
"the son of Alphaeus" (Mk 2:14)
Symbols associated w/St Matthew:
 Gospel, human/angel, sword (in re: martyrdom)
FEAST DAY - September 21

 

Imitate St Matthew - get up and follow Jesus.
Then invite sinners to meet Him.
"What reason can the Teacher have for eating with tax collectors
and those who disregard the law?" —Matthew 9:11
Cause heaven to rejoice (Luke 15:7).

 

His life is somewhat shrouded, and  ... There are not many facts ... But Matthew was a publican ... Who gathered in the tax ... Until that wondrous moment in ... His native Galilee ... When Jesus came upon him, and ... He told him, "Follow me" ... And Matthew followed Jesus then  ... Wherever Jesus went ... Ignoring Pharisees and all ... The Roman government ... With eloquent sincerity ... This good apostle preached ... In distant lands wherever there ... Were souls that could be reached ... And he composed the gospel that ... Inspires us today ... To follow Jesus Christ and live ... According to His way.
From Poem Portraits of the Saints - James J Metcalfe (1956), pg 6


(see Calling of St Matthew - Carrevagio)
 St Matthew, pray for us! 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Liturgy: not an option...

Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fullness of joy,
in thy right hand are pleasures evermore.  - Psalm 16:11 

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“Liturgy is not an option nor merely an obligation,
not a bonus, but a need—
like food and drink, like sleep and work, like friends.

We need to gather, listen, give praise and thanks,
and share communion. 

Otherwise we forget who we are and whose we are; 
and we can have neither the strength nor the joy
to be Christ’s body—present in the world today.”       

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin

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Monday, September 19, 2016

The bloom of an altar within...

For you, LORD, have never 
foresaken those who seek you. - Psalm 9:10b

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"How do I prepare myself to receive the Host? 
I draw near with my soul, from the moment when I wake up. 
I call out for it with my lips, I attract it with my sighs, I long for it, I love it,
and with a thousand acts of discipline, I prepare ... for it.

My chalice is full to the brim with this lowly blood,
drawn and extracted out of love to mingle with His blood on the altar,
my Immaculate Lamb, and together they are offered
up to God's throne, asking for grace.  

Is it not an undeserved happiness and favor
to have an altar within and the freedom to be able
to do this for my Jesus without anybody knowing? 
My soul's blood, its life fluid, is also for Jesus. Power, feelings,
and my life, I place them all at the foot of the tabernacle."


Venerable Conception Cabrera de Armida (+1937)
Excerpt: Irresistibly Drawn to the Eucharist: Conchita Cabrera dr Armida's
Most Beautiful writings on the Eucharist, Fr Juan Gonzalez Gutierrez, M.Sp.S.,

Painting:  Still Life of Flowers and Grapes encircling a Monstrance in a Niche ~ Jan van Kessel

Sunday, September 18, 2016

A place of heart - and home...

"Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope,
where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven." - Pope Francis

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"Going through the street and
passing before any church,
I will enter there...
to make a devout genuflection
to the Sacramental Jesus
and send Him an affection of the heart." 

Ven Germano Ruoppolo
Passionist priest,

Spiritual Director of St Gemma Galgani

Painting:  artist -Vincente Carducho

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Food that sustains...

"The school of Christ is the school of charity.  
On the last day, when the general examination takes place, 
there will be no question at all on the text of Aristotle, 
the aphorisms of Hippocrates, or the paragraphs of Justinian.  
Charity will be the whole syllabus." - St Robert Bellarmine

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"The Holy Eucharist is offered to us on our pilgrimage as food so that we do not faint
on the path to the fatherland,

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especially at the time when,
tired by a long journey,
our forces are apt to wane…
The Lord left His Body in the Eucharist
as a pledge of heavenly beatitude."
 St Robert Bellarmine, “Comments on Aquinas’ O Sacrum Convivum


St Robert Bellarmine
 Italy ~ 1542-1621
Jesuit theologian, writer, and cardinal
Key voice and action in Counter-Reformation
"Prince of the Apologists"
Doctor of the Church
Patron of Canon lawyers, catechists, students,
those with Down's syndrome
FEAST DAY - September 17

 

From St Robert Bellarmine's treatise On the Ascent of the Mind to God:
  "May you consider truly good whatever leads to your goal
and truly evil whatever makes you fall away from it."