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

"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

Putting the devil to flight...

"The priest says, 'In the name of the Father and of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit', thus declaring that he offers the sacrifice 
by the authority of the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity."- St Alphonsus

"Let the sign of the cross be continually made 
on the heart, on the mouth, on the forehead, at table, at the bath, 
in bed, coming in and going out, in joy and sadness, sitting, standing, 

speaking, walking ... in short, in all our actions. Let us make it on

our breasts and all our members, that we may be entirely covered 

with this invincible armor of Christians." - St Gaudentius

 The greeting of every Mass:

In the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

"The devil is afraid of us when we pray

and make sacrifices.  He is also afraid

when we are humble and good. 

He is especially afraid when

we love Jesus very much. 

He runs away when

we make the sign of the cross."

St Anthony the Abbott

a.k.a. - Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert,

Anthony the Anchorite

"Patriarch of Monks"

251-356 (105 y/o)

Feast Day - January 17

St. Anthony's talents at spiritual direction were famous, and many people traveled to the desert to seek his advice.  St Athanasius, who knew Anthony and wrote his biography, said, "Anthony was not known for his writings nor for his worldly wisdom, nor for any art, but simply for his reverence toward God."

Click here: St. Anthony of the Desert - YouTube (2 mins)

 Click here: The Thirty-Eight Sayings of St Anthony the Great

St Anthony of the Desert, pray for us!