April 11th
St Leo the Great (400-461), Pope, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Tuscany, Italy; Feast day April 11th
"Our Saviour, dearly-beloved, was born today: let us be glad. For there is no proper place for sadness, when we keep the birthday of the Life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings to us the joy of promised eternity. No one is kept from sharing in this happiness. There is for all one common measure of joy, because as our Lord, the destroyer of sin and death, finds none free from charge, so is He come to free us all. Let the saint exult in that he draws near to victory. Let the sinner be glad in that he is invited to pardon. Let the gentile take courage in that he is called to life."
"For what is the fruit of our partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, but that we may pass into that which we receive; and that in Whom we are dead, and buried, and raised again (in the newness of our spirit and life) we may bear Him both in spirit and in our flesh through all things."
St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903), Virgin; Camiliagno, Italy; Feast day April 11th
"I felt an inward sorrow for my sins, but so intense that I have never felt the like again...My will made me detest them all, and promise willingly to suffer everything as expiation for them. Then the thoughts crowded thickly within me, and they were thoughts of sorrow, love, fear, hope and comfort."
"Is it possible that there are souls who do not understand what the Blessed Eucharist is? Who are insensible to the Divine Presence...to the mysterious and fervent effusions of the Sacred Heart of my Jesus? O Heart of Jesus! Heart of love!"
"...Gemma alone can do nothing. But together, Gemma and Jesus can do all things!"
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
April 10th
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"Make a firm resolution never to speak or act under the influence of anger, nor to heed any suggestions, however plausible, which your heart may urge at such moments. Never act until your anger has subsided, or until you have once or twice repeated the Our Father or some other prayer."
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th
"God promises to receive the repentant sinner when he returns to Him, but nowhere does He promise to give him tomorrow."
St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Roccasecca, Italy; Feast day March 7th
"God never punishes twice for the same fault, if a first chastisement suffices and if the fault be corrected following the punishment. Yet we, miserable creatures that we are, would inflict, if it were in our power, one hundred quite terrible punishments for one single injury that is done to us."
"The more a soul has been modeled on its Creator in this world, the more it will be like Him in the life to come; and the more it is like Him, the greater will e its bliss, the more it will give glory to God, and the more it will be useful to every creature."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"Make a firm resolution never to speak or act under the influence of anger, nor to heed any suggestions, however plausible, which your heart may urge at such moments. Never act until your anger has subsided, or until you have once or twice repeated the Our Father or some other prayer."
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th
"God promises to receive the repentant sinner when he returns to Him, but nowhere does He promise to give him tomorrow."
St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Roccasecca, Italy; Feast day March 7th
"God never punishes twice for the same fault, if a first chastisement suffices and if the fault be corrected following the punishment. Yet we, miserable creatures that we are, would inflict, if it were in our power, one hundred quite terrible punishments for one single injury that is done to us."
"The more a soul has been modeled on its Creator in this world, the more it will be like Him in the life to come; and the more it is like Him, the greater will e its bliss, the more it will give glory to God, and the more it will be useful to every creature."
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
April 9th
St Mary of Egypt (d. 421), Penitent, Hermit; Egypt
"Often the tyranny of my old passions seemed ready to drag me out of the desert: at those times I threw myself on the ground and watered it with my tears, raising my heart continually to the Blessed Virgin till she procured me comfort: and she has never failed to show herself my faithful protectress."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"So forcibly were You nailed to the Cross that Your body's veins suddenly burst open and streams of Your precious blood flowed freely from Your various wounds. So harshly were You stretched, both lengthwise and in breadth -- similar to the skin membrane on a drum -- that all the joints in Your body gave way and Your every bone could be counted. You allowed Your hands and feet to be transfixed by evil men, and in this way Your sacred hands, while nailed to the Cross, paid back the heavy debt incurred by Adam, who had extended his deadly hands to the forbidden tree. By Your precious blood You wiped away that long-standing debt."
"Do not place too much trust in men. There are few who, in the time of need, prove faithful, and loyal friends are rare. Do not be surprised at this nor take it amiss. Christ knew what it was to be deserted by friends and to be surrounded by enemies. He, who always did good to others, received gross ingratitude in return."
St Mary of Egypt (d. 421), Penitent, Hermit; Egypt
"Often the tyranny of my old passions seemed ready to drag me out of the desert: at those times I threw myself on the ground and watered it with my tears, raising my heart continually to the Blessed Virgin till she procured me comfort: and she has never failed to show herself my faithful protectress."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"So forcibly were You nailed to the Cross that Your body's veins suddenly burst open and streams of Your precious blood flowed freely from Your various wounds. So harshly were You stretched, both lengthwise and in breadth -- similar to the skin membrane on a drum -- that all the joints in Your body gave way and Your every bone could be counted. You allowed Your hands and feet to be transfixed by evil men, and in this way Your sacred hands, while nailed to the Cross, paid back the heavy debt incurred by Adam, who had extended his deadly hands to the forbidden tree. By Your precious blood You wiped away that long-standing debt."
"Do not place too much trust in men. There are few who, in the time of need, prove faithful, and loyal friends are rare. Do not be surprised at this nor take it amiss. Christ knew what it was to be deserted by friends and to be surrounded by enemies. He, who always did good to others, received gross ingratitude in return."
Monday, April 8, 2013
April 8th
St Dionysius of Corinth (d. 171), Bishop, Confessor; Corinth, Greece
"You also by this instruction have mingled together the Romans and Corinthians, who are the planting of Peter and Paul. For they both came to our Corinth and planted us, and taught alike; and alike going to Italy and teaching there, were martyred at the same time."
Padre Pio (1887-1968), Confessor, Stigmatic; Pietrelcina, Italy; Feast day September 23rd
"The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder . . . What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step."
St Dionysius of Corinth (d. 171), Bishop, Confessor; Corinth, Greece
"You also by this instruction have mingled together the Romans and Corinthians, who are the planting of Peter and Paul. For they both came to our Corinth and planted us, and taught alike; and alike going to Italy and teaching there, were martyred at the same time."
Padre Pio (1887-1968), Confessor, Stigmatic; Pietrelcina, Italy; Feast day September 23rd
"The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder . . . What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step."
Sunday, April 7, 2013
April 7th
St Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), Virgin; Glogowiec, Russian Empire (now Poland); Feast day October 5th
"He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart."
"All for you, Jesus. I desire to adore Your mercy with every beat of my heart and to the extent that I am able, to encourage souls to trust in that mercy, as You Yourself have commanded me, O Lord."
"If only souls would become recollected, God would speak to them at once, for dissipation drowns out the word of the Lord."
"I rejoice that God dwells within me; here I abide with Him unendingly; it is here that my greatest intimacy with Him exists; here I dwell with Him in safety; here is a place not probed by the human eye."
"Now I understand that what unites our souls most closely with God is self-denial; that is, joining our will to the will of God. This is what makes the soul truly free, contributes to profound recollection of the spirit, and makes all life's burdens light, and death sweet."
St Albert the Great (1206-1280), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Lauingen, Bavaria; Feast day November 15th
"The Eucharist produces impulses of angelic love and has the singular capacity of effecting in souls a holy, instinctive tenderness for the Queen of the Angels. She has given us Flesh of her flesh and Bone of her bone, and in the Eucharist she continues to give us this sweet, virginal, Heavenly Food."
St Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), Virgin; Glogowiec, Russian Empire (now Poland); Feast day October 5th
"He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart."
"All for you, Jesus. I desire to adore Your mercy with every beat of my heart and to the extent that I am able, to encourage souls to trust in that mercy, as You Yourself have commanded me, O Lord."
"If only souls would become recollected, God would speak to them at once, for dissipation drowns out the word of the Lord."
"I rejoice that God dwells within me; here I abide with Him unendingly; it is here that my greatest intimacy with Him exists; here I dwell with Him in safety; here is a place not probed by the human eye."
"Now I understand that what unites our souls most closely with God is self-denial; that is, joining our will to the will of God. This is what makes the soul truly free, contributes to profound recollection of the spirit, and makes all life's burdens light, and death sweet."
St Albert the Great (1206-1280), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Lauingen, Bavaria; Feast day November 15th
"The Eucharist produces impulses of angelic love and has the singular capacity of effecting in souls a holy, instinctive tenderness for the Queen of the Angels. She has given us Flesh of her flesh and Bone of her bone, and in the Eucharist she continues to give us this sweet, virginal, Heavenly Food."
Saturday, April 6, 2013
April 6th
St Celestine I (d. 432); Pope, Confessor; Rome, Italy
"We are deservedly to blame if we encourage error by silence."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"To the worldly, virtue wears a forbidding look; to sacrifice their worldly pleasures for her would be to buy her at too dear a rate. But when they draw near they see how lovely she is, and when they have once tasted the sweetness she possesses they cheerfully surrender all they have to win her friendship and love. How gladly did the man in the gospel hasten to sell all he had to purchase the field which contained a treasure!
"Why, then, do Christians make so little effort to obtain this inestimable good? If a companion assured you that a treasure lay hidden in your house, you would not fail to search for it, even though you doubted its existence. Yet though you know, on the infallible word of God, that you can find a priceless treasure within your own breast, you do nothing to discover it. Oh! That you would realize its value! Would that you knew how little it costs to obtain it, and how 'nigh is the Lord unto all them that call upon him, that call upon him in truth.'"
St Celestine I (d. 432); Pope, Confessor; Rome, Italy
"We are deservedly to blame if we encourage error by silence."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"To the worldly, virtue wears a forbidding look; to sacrifice their worldly pleasures for her would be to buy her at too dear a rate. But when they draw near they see how lovely she is, and when they have once tasted the sweetness she possesses they cheerfully surrender all they have to win her friendship and love. How gladly did the man in the gospel hasten to sell all he had to purchase the field which contained a treasure!
"Why, then, do Christians make so little effort to obtain this inestimable good? If a companion assured you that a treasure lay hidden in your house, you would not fail to search for it, even though you doubted its existence. Yet though you know, on the infallible word of God, that you can find a priceless treasure within your own breast, you do nothing to discover it. Oh! That you would realize its value! Would that you knew how little it costs to obtain it, and how 'nigh is the Lord unto all them that call upon him, that call upon him in truth.'"
Friday, April 5, 2013
April 5th
St Vincent Ferrer (1357-1419), Priest, Confessor; Valencia, Spain
"Do you desire to study to your advantage? Let devotion accompany all your studies, and study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint. Consult God more than your books, and ask Him, with humility, to make you understand what you read. Study fatigues and drains the mind and heart. Go from time to time to refresh them at the feet of Jesus Christ under His cross. Some moments of repose in His sacred wounds give fresh vigour and new lights. Interrupt your application by short, but fervent and ejaculatory prayers: never begin or end your study but by prayer. Science is a gift of the Father of Lights: do not therefore consider it as barely the work of your own mind or industry."
"For whosoever will proudly dispute or contradict, will always stand without the door. Christ, the master of humility, manifests His truth only to the humble, and hides Himself from the proud."
St Maria Crescentia Hoss (1682-1744), Virgin; Kaufbeuren, Bavaria
"God wants the monastery rich in virtue, not in temporal goods."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"A single tear shed at the remembrance of the Passion of Jesus is worth more than a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or a year of fasting on bread and water."
St Vincent Ferrer (1357-1419), Priest, Confessor; Valencia, Spain
"Do you desire to study to your advantage? Let devotion accompany all your studies, and study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint. Consult God more than your books, and ask Him, with humility, to make you understand what you read. Study fatigues and drains the mind and heart. Go from time to time to refresh them at the feet of Jesus Christ under His cross. Some moments of repose in His sacred wounds give fresh vigour and new lights. Interrupt your application by short, but fervent and ejaculatory prayers: never begin or end your study but by prayer. Science is a gift of the Father of Lights: do not therefore consider it as barely the work of your own mind or industry."
"For whosoever will proudly dispute or contradict, will always stand without the door. Christ, the master of humility, manifests His truth only to the humble, and hides Himself from the proud."
St Maria Crescentia Hoss (1682-1744), Virgin; Kaufbeuren, Bavaria
"God wants the monastery rich in virtue, not in temporal goods."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"A single tear shed at the remembrance of the Passion of Jesus is worth more than a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or a year of fasting on bread and water."
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