When more is more...

  "Prefer nothing, absolutely nothing, 

to the love of Christ." - St Benedict

"The goods of the soul are an end;

the goods of the body are for an end.

Hence concerning temporal goods

we ought to seek according to a measure,

but concerning the goods of the soul

we ought to seek as much as we can."

St Thomas Aquinas

Painting: The Lamb's Supper - Bryan Bustard

Sweetness, yes... so sweet...

 See to it that no one takes you captive 

through hollow and deceptive philosophy, 

which depends on human tradition 

and the basic principles of this world 

rather than on Christ. - Colossians 2:8

“There is more sweetness in 

one hour of prayer before Jesus 

in the Blessed Sacrament 

than in all the world's crowded theaters,

and brilliant drawing rooms,

and giddy diversions, and social gatherings.”

St Gabriel Possenti

Passionist clerical student

Italy ~1838-1862

Exemplary devotion 

Feast Day: February 27

“Love Mary! She is lovable, faithful, constant. She will never let herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme. If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you. If you are troubled, she will console you. If you are sick, she will bring you relief. If you are in need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her. She comes quickly and opens her merciful heart to you, embraces you and consoles and serves you. She will even be at hand to accompany you on the trip to eternity." - St Gabriel Possenti

Our Lady of Sorrows

Click here: Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (His Resolutions) - YouTube  (4:30 mins) 

St Gabriel is remarkable for he obediently and willingly 

converted in a very short time from a life of excess, devoted 

to the pleasures of this world, to becoming inextricably linked 

to the Passion of Our Lord. He shows us that all are blessed with 

the graces to fall in love with Our Lord, no matter what the cost.

Gabriel died at age 24 of tuberculosis and buried the day of his death. 

A companion in the novitiate, Bernard Mary of Jesus, exclaimed:

“Tears come to my eyes and I am filled with shame for having been 

so far from the virtues that he attained in such a short time.”

Click here: St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

St Gabriel Possenti, pray for us! 

Receiving greater grace...

  In quietness and trust is your strength... 

Isaiah 30:15

"Your watchful care after Communion is no less 

important than your devout preparation before it.  

When we keep good watch over ourselves after 

Communion, it is the best preparation we can make 

for receiving greater grace.  Beware of much talking: 

stay by yourself in some place apart and 

there rejoice in the company of your God; 

there you have Him within you, and the 

whole world cannot take Him from you."

Thomas a Kempis

Redouble your fervor!...

"Embrace the Eucharist, tradition, and the 

apostolic succession. Jesus is our founder, 

and that's the most real connection we have. 

Stay strong in faith and draw from the 

rich heritage of our Church." - Jonathan Roumie

"Sooner or later all creatures fail us... 

He alone never deceives;

He alone is faithful. 

He alone is the strength, 

the support, the unique Friend.

Redouble your Eucharistic fervor!"

Fr Mateo Crawley- Boevey

Nastyaofly | Shutterstock

Why do you receive Communion?...

 Why do you receive Communion?

St Francis de Sales explains 
in his Introduction to the Devout Life 
that our primary intention should be 

to grow in the love of Jesus Christ:

"Your main intention in Communion should be 

to grow, strengthen, and abound in the Love of God; 

for Love's Sake receive that which Love Alone gives you.  

Of a truth there is no more loving or tender aspect 

in which to gaze upon the Savior than this act, 

in which He, so to say, annihilates Himself, and 

gives Himself to us as food, in order to fill our souls, 

and to unite Himself more closely 

to the heart and flesh of His faithful ones. 

______________

Painting of Jesus: Artist - Heinrich Hofmann

This classic, Introduction to the Devout Life 

would be an excellent Lenten read.

Sharing in His chalice...

 This holy man fought to the death 

for the law of his God and 

did not fear the words of the godless, 

for he was built on solid rock.  

Entrance Antiphon (Today's Liturgy )

_______________________________________

________________

God of all creation, who were pleased

to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp

a place in the company of the Martyrs,

grant, through his intercession, that, 

sharing with him in the chalice of Christ,

we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 Collect (Today's Liturgy)

 St Polycarp of Smyrna

69-155 AD
Disciple of apostle St John

Friend of Ignatius of Antioch

Apostolic Father 

Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr

Exemplary in catechesis

Feast Day - February 23

"Hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian," Bishop Polycarp said. "And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, 

appoint me a day, and you shall hear them."

________________________

Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” 

Earlier, in a Letter to the Philippians...

“Stand fast, therefore, in this conduct and follow the example of the Lord, ‘firm and unchangeable in faith, lovers of the brotherhood, loving each other, united in truth,’ helping each other with the mildness of the Lord, despising no man.”

And wrote on another occasion...

“If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we ourselves must be forgiving; we are all under the eyes of our Lord and God, and every one of us must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, where each of us will have to give an account.”

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

Click here: Polycarp - YouTube (3:20 mins)

St Polycarp, pray for us!

Secure in Christ: First Sunday of Lent...

  First Sunday of Lent 

"Very few people believe in the devil these days, 

which suits the devil very well.  He is always 

helping to circulate the news of his own death.  
The essence of God is existence, 

and He defines Himself as: 'I am Who am.'  
The essence of the devil is the lie, 

and he defines himself as:  'I am who am not.'  
Satan has very little trouble with those who 

do not believe in him; they are already on his side." 

 Ven Fulton J Sheen, Life of Christ
___________________________

The Temptations of Jesus - The Catholic Thing

Fr Thomas G Weinandy, OFM, Cap.

The Temptation of Christ - Erik Armusik - © Eric Armusik, all rights reserved

"What does Jesus Christ do in the Eucharist? 

It is God who, as our Savior, offers Himself 

each day for us to His Father's justice.

If you are in difficulties and sorrows, 

He will comfort and relieve you. 

If you are sick,

He will either cure you or give you 

strength to suffer so as to merit Heaven. 

If the devil, the world, and the flesh 

are making war upon you, 

He will give you the weapons with which 

to fight, to resist, and to win victory. 

If you are poor,  

He will enrich you with all sorts of 

riches for time and eternity.

Let us open the door of His sacred 

and adorable Heart, and be wrapped about 

for an instant by the flames of His love, and we 

shall see what a God who loves us can do. 

O my God, who shall be able to comprehend?"

St. John Vianney

"The Holy Eucharist is the perfect 

expression of the love of Jesus Christ 

for man." - St. Maria Goretti

Driving out the beasts...

  "We need ... to reemphasize the glories of the Cross and of our 

Crucified Redeemer, to reopen the fountains of mercy 

just when the devil would make us the victim of wrath... 

We must arouse them from their insensibility 

by reminding them that His Blood is offered up 

every morning upon the altars."- St Gaspar del Bufalo

St Peter Damian wrote to a young nephew:

"If I may speak figuratively, drive out the 
roaring beasts from your domain; do not 

cease from protecting yourself daily by 

receiving the Flesh and Blood of the Lord.  
Let your secret foe see your lips 
reddened with the Blood of Christ. 
He will shudder, cower back, 
and flee to his dark, dank retreat."

St Peter Damian

Italy ~ 1007-1072
Benedictine monk, Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia
Reformer, Author - 

Liber Gomorrhianus (Book of Gomorrah)

Doctor of the Church

 MOTTO:  

“Do not prefer anything 

to the love of Christ.”

Feast Day - February 21

“Do not be depressed. 

Do not let your weakness make you impatient. 

Instead, let the serenity of your spirit 

shine through your face. 

Let the joy of your mind burst forth. 

Let words of thanks break from your lips.” 

 St Peter Damian

(Well said, St Peter!)

Click here: St. Peter Damian - YouTube (2 mins)

Click here: Homily: St Peter Damian - YouTube (3:30 mins)

Click here: General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI, 9 September 2009 

(Address in re: St Peter Damian)

St Peter Damian, pray for us!