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

Bartolomeo Cavarozzi ~ St Jerome

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

Click here: St. Jerome - YouTube (2 mins)
Click here: TOP 25 QUOTES BY ST. JEROME (of 131) | A-Z Quotes

St Jerome, pray for us!

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."

Click here: The Archangels - YouTube (1:30 mins)

St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael, pray for us

and defend us in battle!

Live the Eucharist...

(Jesus said ...) "By this all men will know that you are my disciples,

if you love one another." - John 13:35

"Set the Eucharist at the center

of your personal life and community life:

love the Eucharist,

adore the Eucharist and

celebrate it ...

live the Eucharist

by testifying to God's
love for every person."

Pope Saint John Paul II
World Youth Day 2000

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

Click here: St. Vincent de Paul YouTube (6:45 mins)

Click here: Discovering our Saints - St Vincent - YouTube (2:23 mins)

Click here: The Catholic Reader: Saint Vincent de Paul Quotes

Click here: Vincent DePaul Quotes

St Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

Linked in life and in death...

Cosmas and Damian are two of the martyrs included in the ancient Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).    Prayer before the Consecration:

In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, + and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, (James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian) and all your saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

"It is beautiful to think that although we hardly know anything of these saints' lives on earth, we are forever recalling these glorious martyrs at the Supper of the Lamb. While we may not have intimate portrayals of their human lives, we do know these saints very intimately. How can we not, when you are together at the heavenly meal every week? Sharing meals together, seated around the same table provides closeness and intimacy, and that is what we are doing together at every Mass. They are part of our family, and the witnesses of the Heavenly Banquet "who had been slain for the Word of God and for the witness they had borne" (Rev. 6:9). This excerpt from the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church reinforce this view of the Liturgy and our connection with the martyrs:

Our union with the Church in heaven is put into effect in its noblest manner especially in the sacred Liturgy, wherein the power of the Holy Spirit acts upon us through sacramental signs. Then, with combined rejoicing we celebrate together the praise of the divine majesty; then all those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and gathered together into one Church, with one song of praise magnify the one and triune God. Celebrating the Eucharistic sacrifice therefore, we are most closely united to the Church in heaven in communion with and venerating the memory first of all of the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, of Blessed Joseph and the blessed apostles and martyrs and of all the saints (Lumen Gentium, 50d).

It is through the blood of the martyrs that the Church expanded and continues to grow. What a blessing to have this intimate connection with the roll call of martyrs at the Roman Canon. We are continually reminded of belonging and participating in the family of Christ. Let us remember to invoke these blessed martyrs today, and all the saints of the Canon so that  in our death we may join our brothers and sisters in the Heavenly Supper of the Lamb."

Excerpt from Cosmas, Damian and Saints of the Canon by Jennifer Gregory Miller 26 Sept 2014.  Full text:  Click here: Cosmas, Damian and Saints of the Canon | Catholic Culture

Sts Cosmas and Damian performing a miraculous cure by transplantation of a leg. Oil painting attributed to the Master of Los Balbases, ca. 1495.

St Cosmas and St Damian

Nee: Arabia

Died: c 287 (Syria)

Twin brothers, physicians

Practiced medicine without charge

Worked together in life, together in martyrdom, together in eternity

Patron of Doctors (along with St Luke) and pharmacists

Feast Day - September 26

Click here: Saint Cosmas and Damian 09-26 (1:24 mins)

Sts Cosmas and Damian, pray for us!

Crux, Hostia et Virgo...

"O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! 
O bond of charity!"  - St Augustine

"There is nothing littler, meeker or more silent

than Christ present in the Host.

This little piece of bread embodies the humility and perfect silence of God,

His tenderness and His love for us.

If we want to grow and

to be filled with the love of God,

it is necessary to plant our life firmly on three great realities:

the Cross, the Host, and the Virgin:

crux, hostia, et virgo. ...

These are three mysteries that God gave to the world in order to

structure, fructify, and sanctify our interior life and lead us to Jesus.

These three mysteries are to be contemplated in silence."

Robert Cardinal Sarah

in The Power of Silence 
Against the Dictatorship of Noise (57)

Painting: The Virgin with the Host ~ Jean Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1860, France

All things, made new...

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"  

Then he said, "Write this down, for these words

are trustworthy and true." - Rev 21:5

 

 

During a visit to the Philippines, Sister Gertrude from the Sacred Hearts Community

in Hawaii relayed this story (when she was over seventy) to Msgr Josefino (Pepe)

 Ramirez.  He passes it on in a Chapter of his book, Letters to a Brother Priest:

 

"When (Sr Gertrude) was a young nun, one of the old nuns was dying. The custom at that time was for the community to gather in prayer around the one dying.  ... the nun was breathing her last breaths.  Suddenly, she opened her eyes, stretched forth her arms and exclaimed: "O my Beloved." 

Then she sat up and gazed lovingly at the Blessed Sacrament,which she had permission to have in her room since she had been too weak to go to the chapel. What happened next had never been told, until Sister Gertrude shared it with me.  The old, wrinkled nun changed to a strikingly attractive young woman, radiantly aglow with a countenance that put the rest of the nuns into ecstasy just looking at her. After what seemed like a minute or two, the transformed nun went back against her pillow, turning old again and died.  When the Sisters came out of their ecstasy, they were stunned to discover that this extraordinary event lasted for more than one or two minutes. The Sisters were in ecstasy for over thirteen hours!  

... If only we could see the change that takes place in us at each Holy Hour we make.  We are made new in the Eternal Youth of Christ.  We are made innocent, without blemish, as we are cleansed in His Precious Blood, in the folly of His surpassing love. "

 

Photo: University of Steubenville, Ohio

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

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

Click here: St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina - YouTube (2:30 mins)

Click here: St. Padre Pio - YouTube (2 mins)

Click here: 12 Quotes from the Great Saint of Pietrelcina | TOM PERNA

St Padre Pio, pray for us!

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

"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

Painting: Morning News ~ Francis Luis Mora

Sharing in that saving joy...

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

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.

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
Painting above: The Calling of Matthew - Caravaggio

 

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

Click here: Web Gallery of Art, searchable fine arts image database

(see Calling of St Matthew - Caravaggio)

Discovering our Saints - St. Matthew the Apostle - YouTube

St. Matthew - YouTube (Apostleship of Prayer)

 St Matthew, pray for us! 

In His light we see light...

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light
we see light. - Psalm 36:9

“If the Blessed Sacrament is Jesus all for us,

is it not the most legitimate of conclusions that we should be all for Him?

We should be all for Jesus, if Jesus is our all.

And what does this mean?

Surely, among other things, 
that the Blessed Sacrament should be to us just

the single overpowering fact of the world.

Our hands hold Him; 
our words make Him;
our tongue rests Him;

our body compasses Him;
our souls feel Him;
our flesh feeds upon Him,

Him, the Infinite, the Incomprehensible,
the Immense, the Eternal.

Must not all life be looked at in this light,

just as the whole Church lies in this light and has no other?"

 

Fr Frederick W Faber

Photo image credit - Michael McGlothlen - Ireland

Holy places...

 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. - Ps 122:1-2
  

Non enim pro locis res, sed pro bonis rebus loca amanda sunt –

"Things are not to be loved for the sake of a place,

but places are to be loved

for the sake of their good things."

Pope St Gregory the Great

Living center of the universe...

What sublime humility and humble sublimeness that

the Lord of the Universe, the Divine Son of God,

should stoop as to hide Himself under the appearance of bread

for our salvation! - St Francis of Assisi

 

 

"It is in the Eucharist

that all that has been created 

finds its greatest exaltation. 

It is the living center of the universe,

the overflowing core of love and of inexhaustible life.

Joined to the incarnate Son present in the Eucharist

is itself an act of cosmic love. ...

The Eucharist joins heaven and earth;

it embraces and penetrates all creation.

 

Pope Francis

Laudato Si, 236

 

Painting: Alegoria Eucaristica con los 7 arcangeles ~ Miguel Cabrera

Barefoot thru fire... with JOY...

"Who we love shapes what we become." - St Clare of Assisi

 

When St Margaret Mary Alacoque left the world and consecrated herself

to God in the cloister, she made a private vow and wrote in her blood,

"All for the Eucharist,

nothing for me."

It is useless to attempt to describe the Saint's burning love for the Eucharist.

When she was not able to receive Holy Communion, she broke out

in ardent expressions of love like these:

"I have such a desire for Holy Communion that if

I had to walk barefoot along a path of fire to obtain It,

I would do so with unspeakable joy."

Excerpt from Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love (Fr Stefano Manelli)