April 18th
St Apollonius the Apologist (d. 185), Martyr; Rome, Italy; Feast day April 18th
"There is waiting for me something better: eternal life, given to the person who has lived well on earth."
Bl Marie-Anne Blondin (1809-1890), Virgin, Foundress; Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada; Feast day April 18th
"As for me, my Lord, I bless Divine Providence a thousand times for the maternal care she shows me in making me walk the way of tribulations and crosses."
"May Holy Eucharist and perfect abandonment to God's Will be your heaven on earth."
"There is more happiness in forgiving than in revenge."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Without any delay You forgave Mary Magdalen's many sins, as she wept copious tears at Your feet. And Peter, after he had three times denied You and had cried bitterly, You again took into Your fellowship. In Your mercy You restored to health those afflicted with various diseases and because of Your abundant love You freed those held captive by their serious sins. This is clear in the case of the adulteress, whom You snatched from the clutches of her accusers and delivered from being stoned.
O lovable Jesus, my mercy and my refuge, who protect and deliver me from the wrath of my enemies, be merciful to me and let not my soul perish among the ungodly, for it was precisely in order to redeem my soul that You voluntarily suffered Your crucifixion.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
April 17th
St Stephen Harding (d. 1134), Abbot, Confessor; Dorset, England; Feast day April 17th
"I assure you that I go to God in fear and trembling. If my baseness should be found to have ever done any good, even in this I fear, lest I should not have preserved that grace with the humility and care I ought."
St Simeon (AD 341); Bishop, Martyr; Persia; Feast day April 17th
"I would not adore you, O king; and you far excel the sun, being endued with reason. We Christians have no Lord but Christ, who was crucified."
"Hear me, O Jesus, though most undeserving and unworthy, grant that I may drink this cup on this day, and at the hour of Your passion. May all know that Simeon was obedient to his Lord and was sacrificed with Him."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"Men go to Hell through hope, as well as through despair: through a presumptuous hope during life, and through despair at the hour of death."
St Stephen Harding (d. 1134), Abbot, Confessor; Dorset, England; Feast day April 17th
"I assure you that I go to God in fear and trembling. If my baseness should be found to have ever done any good, even in this I fear, lest I should not have preserved that grace with the humility and care I ought."
St Simeon (AD 341); Bishop, Martyr; Persia; Feast day April 17th
"I would not adore you, O king; and you far excel the sun, being endued with reason. We Christians have no Lord but Christ, who was crucified."
"Hear me, O Jesus, though most undeserving and unworthy, grant that I may drink this cup on this day, and at the hour of Your passion. May all know that Simeon was obedient to his Lord and was sacrificed with Him."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"Men go to Hell through hope, as well as through despair: through a presumptuous hope during life, and through despair at the hour of death."
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
April 16th
St Bernardette Soubirous (1844-1879), Virgin; Lourdes, France; Feast day April 16th
"[She is] so lovely that, when you have seen her once, you would willingly die to see her again!"
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner."
"The Blessed Virgin chose me only because I was the most ignorant."
Bl Joachim Piccolomini (1258-1305), Confessor; Sienna, Italy; Feast day April 16th
"You have taught me that an alms is given to Jesus Christ, in the persons of the poor: can we refuse Him anything? And what is the advantage of riches, but that they be employed in purchasing treasures in heaven?"
St Magnus (d. 1104), Bishop, Martyr; Orkney, Scotland; Feast day April 16th
"I am ready to die a thousand times over for the cause of God and his flock; but in his name I command you to spare his people."
St Bernardette Soubirous (1844-1879), Virgin; Lourdes, France; Feast day April 16th
"[She is] so lovely that, when you have seen her once, you would willingly die to see her again!"
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner."
"The Blessed Virgin chose me only because I was the most ignorant."
Bl Joachim Piccolomini (1258-1305), Confessor; Sienna, Italy; Feast day April 16th
"You have taught me that an alms is given to Jesus Christ, in the persons of the poor: can we refuse Him anything? And what is the advantage of riches, but that they be employed in purchasing treasures in heaven?"
St Magnus (d. 1104), Bishop, Martyr; Orkney, Scotland; Feast day April 16th
"I am ready to die a thousand times over for the cause of God and his flock; but in his name I command you to spare his people."
Monday, April 15, 2013
April 15th
St Peter Gonzales (1190-1246), Priest, Confessor; Galicia, Spain; Feast day April 15th
"If you love me, follow me! If you cannot follow me, forget me!"
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Lord, I praise and glorify Your steadfastness and perseverance in remaining on the Cross You embraced, and from which neither flattery nor empty promises could induce You to descend -- not for one brief moment would You have abandoned that which You had willingly ascended. It was Your firm decision to remain unto the end and to die on the Cross You had chosen with so holy a love; likewise it was always Your desire to bring to a glorious end the work of salvation that You had initiated. You, who taught others to persevere in doing good works, manifested Your obedience by remaining on the Cross, and by that example of Yours, You indicated to Your followers that they too must show constancy in being obedient."
St John Chrysostom (347-407), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Antioch; Feast day September 13th
"If we keep ourselves in the presence of God we shall neither think nor say nor do what is wrong, convinced as we are that God is the witness of all our thoughts and words and actions."
"If you remove boiling water from the stove, it will soon cool off. So it is with the human soul; to keep the fire of God's love aglow, the thought of His presence must be constantly before us."
St Peter Gonzales (1190-1246), Priest, Confessor; Galicia, Spain; Feast day April 15th
"If you love me, follow me! If you cannot follow me, forget me!"
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Lord, I praise and glorify Your steadfastness and perseverance in remaining on the Cross You embraced, and from which neither flattery nor empty promises could induce You to descend -- not for one brief moment would You have abandoned that which You had willingly ascended. It was Your firm decision to remain unto the end and to die on the Cross You had chosen with so holy a love; likewise it was always Your desire to bring to a glorious end the work of salvation that You had initiated. You, who taught others to persevere in doing good works, manifested Your obedience by remaining on the Cross, and by that example of Yours, You indicated to Your followers that they too must show constancy in being obedient."
St John Chrysostom (347-407), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Antioch; Feast day September 13th
"If we keep ourselves in the presence of God we shall neither think nor say nor do what is wrong, convinced as we are that God is the witness of all our thoughts and words and actions."
"If you remove boiling water from the stove, it will soon cool off. So it is with the human soul; to keep the fire of God's love aglow, the thought of His presence must be constantly before us."
Sunday, April 14, 2013
April 14th
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of all things and Giver of all good things, I bless and thank You for enduring Your violent disrobing and, amid mockery, the ripping off of Your clothing....By doing without Your clothes You clearly indicate what I must do when something I deem necessary is taken from me. You want me to be prepared to prefer temporal losses rather than to seek whatever is legitimately due me....
To meditate on such great affliction arouses compassion in us and to witness such great endurance invites us to imitation. Therefore, show more patience when something you consider a necessity has been taken from you, or when what you deeply desire is denied you....
Grant me, as your seamless garment is its sign, to preserve the unity of brotherly love in the bond of peace and, for the love of interior peace, to reject all that may lead to dissension. May I avoid the bustle of this world, abstain from wandering about, and engaging in useless gossip, and may I desire to lead a pure and hidden life with You. Let me not crave worldly happiness or want to own things. While You were on this earth You possessed no worldly goods, and the little that You seemed to use to fulfill Your needs, even this You permitted the despoilers to take from You and disperse. In this manner You give an example of patience to all who suffer wrongs done to them, lest they yield to inordinate sadness over the loss of their belongings.
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of all things and Giver of all good things, I bless and thank You for enduring Your violent disrobing and, amid mockery, the ripping off of Your clothing....By doing without Your clothes You clearly indicate what I must do when something I deem necessary is taken from me. You want me to be prepared to prefer temporal losses rather than to seek whatever is legitimately due me....
To meditate on such great affliction arouses compassion in us and to witness such great endurance invites us to imitation. Therefore, show more patience when something you consider a necessity has been taken from you, or when what you deeply desire is denied you....
Grant me, as your seamless garment is its sign, to preserve the unity of brotherly love in the bond of peace and, for the love of interior peace, to reject all that may lead to dissension. May I avoid the bustle of this world, abstain from wandering about, and engaging in useless gossip, and may I desire to lead a pure and hidden life with You. Let me not crave worldly happiness or want to own things. While You were on this earth You possessed no worldly goods, and the little that You seemed to use to fulfill Your needs, even this You permitted the despoilers to take from You and disperse. In this manner You give an example of patience to all who suffer wrongs done to them, lest they yield to inordinate sadness over the loss of their belongings.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
April 13th
St Hermenegild (AD 586), Martyr; Spain; Feast day April 13th
"I confess your goodness to me has been extreme. I will preserve to my dying breath the respect, duty, and tenderness which I owe you; but is it possible that you should desire me to prefer worldly greatness to my salvation? I value the crown as nothing; I am ready to lose sceptre and life too, rather than abandon the divine truth."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Who of us can now despair about not having his sins forgiven,when they, who crucified the Dispenser of pardon, experienced such abounding kindness? My soul, though you may be guilty of many crimes, do not despair. You may be caught in the web of your evil passions and may be subject to many severe temptations, nevertheless, disheartened one, you still have the hope of life. The bowels of mercy are available to you, and the Cross, nails, lance, and Jesus' many blood-covered wounds are witnesses of that mercy.
"Penetrate deeply into the five sacred wounds of the Crucified, kiss His other wounds, cling to the tree of life with loving arms, and hold fast to Jesus hanging on His Cross, for He is the certain pledge of our salvation. Worship Him devoutly, commit yourself to Him with full faith, and abandon yourself completely into His hands. Since He had shown Himself to be good and merciful to His enemies, then He will certainly be more gracious to one who sorrows over his sins."
St Hermenegild (AD 586), Martyr; Spain; Feast day April 13th
"I confess your goodness to me has been extreme. I will preserve to my dying breath the respect, duty, and tenderness which I owe you; but is it possible that you should desire me to prefer worldly greatness to my salvation? I value the crown as nothing; I am ready to lose sceptre and life too, rather than abandon the divine truth."
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), Confessor; Kempen, Germany
"Who of us can now despair about not having his sins forgiven,when they, who crucified the Dispenser of pardon, experienced such abounding kindness? My soul, though you may be guilty of many crimes, do not despair. You may be caught in the web of your evil passions and may be subject to many severe temptations, nevertheless, disheartened one, you still have the hope of life. The bowels of mercy are available to you, and the Cross, nails, lance, and Jesus' many blood-covered wounds are witnesses of that mercy.
"Penetrate deeply into the five sacred wounds of the Crucified, kiss His other wounds, cling to the tree of life with loving arms, and hold fast to Jesus hanging on His Cross, for He is the certain pledge of our salvation. Worship Him devoutly, commit yourself to Him with full faith, and abandon yourself completely into His hands. Since He had shown Himself to be good and merciful to His enemies, then He will certainly be more gracious to one who sorrows over his sins."
Friday, April 12, 2013
April 12th
St Zeno (AD 380), Bishop of Verona, Confessor; Africa; Feast day April 12th
"For what can be richer than a man to whom God is pleased to acknowledge himself debtor?"
"How earnestly do I desire, if I were able, to celebrate thee, O Patience, queen of all things! but by my life and manners more than by my words. For thou rest in thy own action and council more than in discourses, and in perfecting rather than in multiplying virtues. Thou are the support of virginity, the secure harbour of widowhood, the guide and directress of the married state, the unanimity of friendship, the comfort and joy of slavery, to which thou art often liberty. --By thee, poverty enjoys all, because, content with itself, it bears all. By thee, the prophets were advanced in virtue, and the apostles united to Christ. Thou are the daily crown and mother of the martyrs. Thou are the bulwark of faith, the fruit of hope, and the friend of charity. Thou conduct all the people and all divine virtues, as disheveled hairs bound up into one knot, for ornament and honour. Happy, eternally happy, is he who shall always possess thee in his soul."
"O Charity! how tender, how rich, how powerful art thou! He who possesses not thee, has nothing. thou could change God into man. Thou have overcome death, by teaching a God to die."
St Julius (AD 352), Pope, Confessor; Rome, Italy; Feast day April 12th
"If they had been guilty, you should have written to us all, that judgment might have been given by all: for they were bishops and churches that suffered, and these not common churches, but the same that the apostles themselves had governed. Why did they not write to us especially concerning the church of Alexandria? Are you ignorant, that it is the custom to write to us immediately, and that the decision ought to come from hence? In case therefore that the bishop of that see lay under any suspicions, you ought to have written to our church. But now, without having sent us any information on the subject, and having acted just as you thought proper, you require of us to approve your measures, without sending us any account of the reasons of your proceedings. These are not the ordinances of Paul, this is not the tradition of our fathers; this is an unprecedented sort of conduct. I declare to you what we have learned from the blessed Apostle Peter, and I believe it so well known to everybody, that I should not have mentioned it, had not this happened."
St Zeno (AD 380), Bishop of Verona, Confessor; Africa; Feast day April 12th
"For what can be richer than a man to whom God is pleased to acknowledge himself debtor?"
"How earnestly do I desire, if I were able, to celebrate thee, O Patience, queen of all things! but by my life and manners more than by my words. For thou rest in thy own action and council more than in discourses, and in perfecting rather than in multiplying virtues. Thou are the support of virginity, the secure harbour of widowhood, the guide and directress of the married state, the unanimity of friendship, the comfort and joy of slavery, to which thou art often liberty. --By thee, poverty enjoys all, because, content with itself, it bears all. By thee, the prophets were advanced in virtue, and the apostles united to Christ. Thou are the daily crown and mother of the martyrs. Thou are the bulwark of faith, the fruit of hope, and the friend of charity. Thou conduct all the people and all divine virtues, as disheveled hairs bound up into one knot, for ornament and honour. Happy, eternally happy, is he who shall always possess thee in his soul."
"O Charity! how tender, how rich, how powerful art thou! He who possesses not thee, has nothing. thou could change God into man. Thou have overcome death, by teaching a God to die."
St Julius (AD 352), Pope, Confessor; Rome, Italy; Feast day April 12th
"If they had been guilty, you should have written to us all, that judgment might have been given by all: for they were bishops and churches that suffered, and these not common churches, but the same that the apostles themselves had governed. Why did they not write to us especially concerning the church of Alexandria? Are you ignorant, that it is the custom to write to us immediately, and that the decision ought to come from hence? In case therefore that the bishop of that see lay under any suspicions, you ought to have written to our church. But now, without having sent us any information on the subject, and having acted just as you thought proper, you require of us to approve your measures, without sending us any account of the reasons of your proceedings. These are not the ordinances of Paul, this is not the tradition of our fathers; this is an unprecedented sort of conduct. I declare to you what we have learned from the blessed Apostle Peter, and I believe it so well known to everybody, that I should not have mentioned it, had not this happened."
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