March 26th
St Margaret of Clitherow (1555-1571), Martyr; Middleton, England
"The sheriffs have said that I am going to die this coming Friday; and I feel the weakness of my flesh which is troubled at this news, but my spirit rejoices greatly. For the love of God, pray for me and ask all good people to do likewise."
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Haute Savoie, France; Feast day, January 29th
"The Everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost Heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own Hands, to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God."
St Alphonsus (1696-1787), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Marianella, Naples; Feast day August 2nd
"Behold, in the Blessed Sacrament we can converse at pleasure with Jesus, we can open our hearts to Him, we can lay our wants before Him, and we can ask Him for His graces. In a word, in this sacrament we can treat with the King of Heaven, in all confidence and without restraint."
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
March 25th
St Dismas (1st cent.), Confessor; Palestine
"Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom!"
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Such horrendous impiety to condemn an innocent person by appealing to false witnesses, to desire the death of the Author of life, to aspire to crucify Christ the King, and to curse one who is holy and just to a most shameful death!...Have mercy, O good Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner, for my soul trusts in you."
"Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things."
St Bonaventure (1221-1274), Bishop, Doctor of the Church; Bagnoregio, Italy; Feast day July 14th
"Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful pang of Your love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for You, that it may yearn for You and faint for Your courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with You."
St Dismas (1st cent.), Confessor; Palestine
"Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom!"
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Such horrendous impiety to condemn an innocent person by appealing to false witnesses, to desire the death of the Author of life, to aspire to crucify Christ the King, and to curse one who is holy and just to a most shameful death!...Have mercy, O good Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner, for my soul trusts in you."
"Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things."
St Bonaventure (1221-1274), Bishop, Doctor of the Church; Bagnoregio, Italy; Feast day July 14th
"Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful pang of Your love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for You, that it may yearn for You and faint for Your courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with You."
Sunday, March 24, 2013
March 24th
St Irenaeus (d. 304), Bishop, Martyr; Sirmium, Serbia
"Lord Jesus Christ, who condescends to suffer for the salvation of the world, command the heavens to open, that the angels may receive the soul of Your servant Irenaeus, who suffers for Your name, and for Your people of the Catholic Church of Sirmium."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are meaningless."
"Many call upon the Lord, but not with their voice; that is to say, they call on the Lord not with the voice of the soul, but with the voice of the body. Call with your thoughts, call with your heart, and then the Lord will certainly hear you."
St Irenaeus (d. 304), Bishop, Martyr; Sirmium, Serbia
"Lord Jesus Christ, who condescends to suffer for the salvation of the world, command the heavens to open, that the angels may receive the soul of Your servant Irenaeus, who suffers for Your name, and for Your people of the Catholic Church of Sirmium."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are meaningless."
"Many call upon the Lord, but not with their voice; that is to say, they call on the Lord not with the voice of the soul, but with the voice of the body. Call with your thoughts, call with your heart, and then the Lord will certainly hear you."
Saturday, March 23, 2013
March 23rd
St Alphonsus Turibius (1538-1606), Priest, Confessor; Vallodolid, Spain
"Time is not our own, and we must give a strict account of it."
Ss Victorian & c. (484), Martyrs; Carthage, Tunisia
"Tell the king that I trust in Christ. If his majesty please he may condemn me to the flames, or to wild beasts, or to any torments; but I shall never consent to renounce the Catholic Church in which I have been baptized. Even if there were no other life after this, I would never be ungrateful and perfidious to God, who has granted me the happiness of knowing Him, and who has bestowed on me His most precious graces."
St Louis de Montfort (1673-1716), Priest, Confessor; Monfort-sur-Meu, France; Feast day April 28th
"Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray."
St Alphonsus Turibius (1538-1606), Priest, Confessor; Vallodolid, Spain
"Time is not our own, and we must give a strict account of it."
Ss Victorian & c. (484), Martyrs; Carthage, Tunisia
"Tell the king that I trust in Christ. If his majesty please he may condemn me to the flames, or to wild beasts, or to any torments; but I shall never consent to renounce the Catholic Church in which I have been baptized. Even if there were no other life after this, I would never be ungrateful and perfidious to God, who has granted me the happiness of knowing Him, and who has bestowed on me His most precious graces."
St Louis de Montfort (1673-1716), Priest, Confessor; Monfort-sur-Meu, France; Feast day April 28th
"Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray."
Friday, March 22, 2013
March 22nd
St Basil of Ancyra (362), Priest, Martyr; Ankara, Turkey
"You know how many pieces of flesh have been torn from my body, yet look on my shoulders and sides: see if any wounds appear. Know that Jesus Christ this night has healed me. Send this news to your master Julian, that he may know the power of God whom he has forsaken. He has overturned his altars, who was himself concealed under them when he was sought by Constantius to be put to death. But god has discovered to me that his tyranny will be shortly extinguished with his life."
"O Christ, my Light! O Jesus, my Hope! Quiet Haven from the stormy sea, I thank You, O Lord God of my fathers, that You have snatched my soul from the pit of Hell and preserved Your name in me unstained! Let me finish my life a victor and inherit eternal life according to the promise You gave my fathers. Now accept my soul in peace, plying steadfast in this confession! For You are merciful and great is Your mercy, You Who live and sojourn throughout all the ages. Amen."
"My chief name is 'Christian,' derived from 'Christ,' the Name that is eternal and beyond human understanding."
"The Son is in all things like the Father, in will as well as hypostasis, in existence and in being."
St John of the Cross (1542-1591), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontiveros, Spain; Feast day November 24th
"Some pursue their own taste and satisfaction in spiritual things in preference to the way of perfection which consists in denying their own wishes and tastes for the love of God. If such persons perform some exercise through obedience, even though it suit their inclination, they soon lose the wish for it, and all devotion in it, because their only pleasure is in doing what their own will directs, which ordinarily would be better left undone. The Saints did not act thus."
St Basil of Ancyra (362), Priest, Martyr; Ankara, Turkey
"You know how many pieces of flesh have been torn from my body, yet look on my shoulders and sides: see if any wounds appear. Know that Jesus Christ this night has healed me. Send this news to your master Julian, that he may know the power of God whom he has forsaken. He has overturned his altars, who was himself concealed under them when he was sought by Constantius to be put to death. But god has discovered to me that his tyranny will be shortly extinguished with his life."
"O Christ, my Light! O Jesus, my Hope! Quiet Haven from the stormy sea, I thank You, O Lord God of my fathers, that You have snatched my soul from the pit of Hell and preserved Your name in me unstained! Let me finish my life a victor and inherit eternal life according to the promise You gave my fathers. Now accept my soul in peace, plying steadfast in this confession! For You are merciful and great is Your mercy, You Who live and sojourn throughout all the ages. Amen."
"My chief name is 'Christian,' derived from 'Christ,' the Name that is eternal and beyond human understanding."
"The Son is in all things like the Father, in will as well as hypostasis, in existence and in being."
St John of the Cross (1542-1591), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontiveros, Spain; Feast day November 24th
"Some pursue their own taste and satisfaction in spiritual things in preference to the way of perfection which consists in denying their own wishes and tastes for the love of God. If such persons perform some exercise through obedience, even though it suit their inclination, they soon lose the wish for it, and all devotion in it, because their only pleasure is in doing what their own will directs, which ordinarily would be better left undone. The Saints did not act thus."
Thursday, March 21, 2013
March 21st
St Benedict (480-547), Confessor, Founder; Norcia, Italy
"My words are addressed to thee, whoever thou art, that, renouncing thine own will, dost put on the strong and bright armour of obedience in order to fight for the Lord Christ, our true king."
"Let the sick be served in very deed as Christ himself."
"We have written this Rule, that by observing it in monasteries, we may shew ourselves to have some degree of goodness in life and a beginning of holiness. But for him who would hasten to the perfection of religion, there are the teachings of the holy Fathers, the following whereof bringeth a man to the height of perfection."
St Serapion (d. 370), Bishop, Confessor; Egypt
"The mind is purified by spiritual knowledge, (or by holy meditation and prayer,) the spiritual passions of the soul by charity, and the irregular appetites by abstinence and penance."
St Nicholas of Flue (1470-1487), Confessor; Sachseln, Switzerland
"My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you.
"My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to you.
"My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you."
Bl Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949), Virgin; Cantanzaro, Italy
"When I receive Jesus in Communion, Mary is always present. I want to receive Jesus from her hands, she must make me one with Him. I cannot separate Mary from Jesus. Hail, O Body born of Mary! Hail, Mary, dawn of the Eucharist!"
St Benedict (480-547), Confessor, Founder; Norcia, Italy
"My words are addressed to thee, whoever thou art, that, renouncing thine own will, dost put on the strong and bright armour of obedience in order to fight for the Lord Christ, our true king."
"Let the sick be served in very deed as Christ himself."
"We have written this Rule, that by observing it in monasteries, we may shew ourselves to have some degree of goodness in life and a beginning of holiness. But for him who would hasten to the perfection of religion, there are the teachings of the holy Fathers, the following whereof bringeth a man to the height of perfection."
St Serapion (d. 370), Bishop, Confessor; Egypt
"The mind is purified by spiritual knowledge, (or by holy meditation and prayer,) the spiritual passions of the soul by charity, and the irregular appetites by abstinence and penance."
St Nicholas of Flue (1470-1487), Confessor; Sachseln, Switzerland
"My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you.
"My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to you.
"My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you."
Bl Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949), Virgin; Cantanzaro, Italy
"When I receive Jesus in Communion, Mary is always present. I want to receive Jesus from her hands, she must make me one with Him. I cannot separate Mary from Jesus. Hail, O Body born of Mary! Hail, Mary, dawn of the Eucharist!"
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
March 20th
St Cuthbert (634-687), Bishop, Confessor; Dunbar, Scotland
"Miserable men that we are, whilst we are resigning ourselves to sleep and idleness, we take no thought to behold the light of God's holy angels, who never sleep."
"You see, my beloved brethren, how great is the grace of God to him who hopes and trusts in the Lord."
"Dearest brethren, as often as you hear the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom preached to you, you should listen with attentive heart and with watchful feelings, lest the devil, who has a thousand ways of harming you, prevent you by superfluous cares from hearing the word of salvation."
"What are you doing, my brethren, in thus reviling those whom you see hurried to destruction? Would it not be better and more humane to entreat the Lord in their behalf, than thus to take delight in their misfortunes?"
St Photina, (d. 1st cent.), Martyr; Samaria
"Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."
St Maria Josefa of the Heart of Jesus (1842-1912), Virgin, Foundress; Vitoria, Spain
"I was born with a religious vocation."
"In the Divine Heart of Jesus is the center of our communication with Him. We can speak with Him as frequently as we desire without disturbing anyone, speaking intimately with Him."
St Cuthbert (634-687), Bishop, Confessor; Dunbar, Scotland
"Miserable men that we are, whilst we are resigning ourselves to sleep and idleness, we take no thought to behold the light of God's holy angels, who never sleep."
"You see, my beloved brethren, how great is the grace of God to him who hopes and trusts in the Lord."
"Dearest brethren, as often as you hear the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom preached to you, you should listen with attentive heart and with watchful feelings, lest the devil, who has a thousand ways of harming you, prevent you by superfluous cares from hearing the word of salvation."
"What are you doing, my brethren, in thus reviling those whom you see hurried to destruction? Would it not be better and more humane to entreat the Lord in their behalf, than thus to take delight in their misfortunes?"
St Photina, (d. 1st cent.), Martyr; Samaria
"Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."
St Maria Josefa of the Heart of Jesus (1842-1912), Virgin, Foundress; Vitoria, Spain
"I was born with a religious vocation."
"In the Divine Heart of Jesus is the center of our communication with Him. We can speak with Him as frequently as we desire without disturbing anyone, speaking intimately with Him."
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