May 30th
St Ferdinand III (1198-1252), King, Confessor; Leon, Spain; Feast day May 30th
"Thou, O Lord, who searchest the secrets of heart, knowest that I desire thy glory, not mine; and the increase of thy faith, and holy religion, not of transitory kingdoms."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"Seneca affirms that he who closed his heart to the claims of unruly desires was not inferior in wealth or happiness to Jupiter himself. By this he signified that as man's misery springs from unfulfilled desires, he may be said to be very near the summit of happiness who has learned to subdue his desires so that they cannot disturb him."
St Bernard (1090-1153), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontaine-les-Dijon, France; Feast day August 20th
"Humility is contempt of self founded on a true knowledge of our baseness. The effect of this virtue is to pluck from our heart all the roots of pride as well as all love of earthly honors and dignities. It inspires us to seek the lowest place, persuading us that had another received the graces we enjoy he would have been more grateful and would have used them more profitably for the glory of God."
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
May 29th
St Conan and Sons (d. 275), Martyrs; Iconia, Turkey; Feast day May 29th
"Those who live according to the spirit of the world are fond of pleasures and ease; but those who live according to the Spirit of God,study to purchase the kingdom of heaven by pain and tribulation. As for me, my desire is to forfeit my life here, that I may for ever reign with Jesus Christ."
St Cyril (3rd cent.), Martyr, Ceasarea, Palestine; Feast day May 29th
"I rejoice in suffering reproaches for what I have done. God will receive me, with whom I shall be better than with my father. I cheerfully renounce earthly estates and house, that I may be made rich in heaven. I am not afraid of death, because it will procure me a better life."
St Bernard (1090-1153), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontaine-les-Dijon, France; Feast day August 20th
" If we take away self-love, there will be no longer any reason for the existence of Hell."
St Conan and Sons (d. 275), Martyrs; Iconia, Turkey; Feast day May 29th
"Those who live according to the spirit of the world are fond of pleasures and ease; but those who live according to the Spirit of God,study to purchase the kingdom of heaven by pain and tribulation. As for me, my desire is to forfeit my life here, that I may for ever reign with Jesus Christ."
St Cyril (3rd cent.), Martyr, Ceasarea, Palestine; Feast day May 29th
"I rejoice in suffering reproaches for what I have done. God will receive me, with whom I shall be better than with my father. I cheerfully renounce earthly estates and house, that I may be made rich in heaven. I am not afraid of death, because it will procure me a better life."
St Bernard (1090-1153), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontaine-les-Dijon, France; Feast day August 20th
" If we take away self-love, there will be no longer any reason for the existence of Hell."
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
May 28th
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"Drive from your heart the bitterness of hatred and yield to the sweetness of fraternal charity. Independently of your eternal interests, which impose this duty upon you, there is nothing sweeter than love, and nothing more bitter than hatred, which preys like a cancer on the heart of it s victim, where it was first engendered."
St Bernard (1090-1153), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontaine-les-Dijon, France; Feast day August 20th
"In regard to eating there are four things to be regulated: the time, the manner, the quantity, and the quality. The time should be limited to the usual hours of our repast; the manner should be free from that eagerness which makes us appear absorbed in what is set before us; the quantity and quality should not exceed what is granted others, except when a condition of health manifestly requires delicacies."
Ven. Louis of Granada (1505-1588), Confessor; Granada, Spain
"Drive from your heart the bitterness of hatred and yield to the sweetness of fraternal charity. Independently of your eternal interests, which impose this duty upon you, there is nothing sweeter than love, and nothing more bitter than hatred, which preys like a cancer on the heart of it s victim, where it was first engendered."
St Bernard (1090-1153), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Fontaine-les-Dijon, France; Feast day August 20th
"In regard to eating there are four things to be regulated: the time, the manner, the quantity, and the quality. The time should be limited to the usual hours of our repast; the manner should be free from that eagerness which makes us appear absorbed in what is set before us; the quantity and quality should not exceed what is granted others, except when a condition of health manifestly requires delicacies."
Monday, May 27, 2013
May 27th
St Bede (673-735), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Northumbria, England; Feast day May 27th
"It is now time for me to return to Him who made me, and gave me a being when I was nothing. I have lived a long time; my merciful Judge most graciously foresaw and ordered the course of my life for me. The time of my dissolution draws near. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. Yes; my soul desires to see Christ my king in His beauty."
"And I pray Thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom, and to appear forever before Thy face."
"Holy Scripture is above all other books not only by its authority because it is Divine, or by its utility because it leads to eternal life, but also by its antiquity and its literary form."
"Highest Father of lights, by whom every excellent thing is given and from whom every perfect gift descends, you have given me, the humblest of your servants, both the love and the aid to consider the wonders of your law, and have manifested to me, unworthy though I am, the grace to not only grasp the ancient offerings in the treasury of this prophetic book but also to discover new ones beneath the veil of the old and to bring them forth for the use of my fellow servants -- remember me with favor, oh my God."
"Christ is the morning star, who when the night of this world has passed, brings to his saints the promised light of life, and opens to them everlasting day. Amen."
"Whenever we enter the church and draw near to the heavenly mysteries, we ought to approach with all humility and fear, both because of the presence of the angelic powers and out of the reverence due to the sacred oblation. For as the angels are said to have stood by the Lord's body when it lay in the tomb, so we must believe that they are present in the celebration of the Mysteries of His most sacred Body at the time of consecration."
St Julius (d. 302), Martyr; Bulgaria; Feast day May 27th
"Lord Jesus, for whose name I suffer death, vouchsafe to receive my soul in the number of thy saints."
St Bede (673-735), Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Northumbria, England; Feast day May 27th
"It is now time for me to return to Him who made me, and gave me a being when I was nothing. I have lived a long time; my merciful Judge most graciously foresaw and ordered the course of my life for me. The time of my dissolution draws near. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. Yes; my soul desires to see Christ my king in His beauty."
"And I pray Thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom, and to appear forever before Thy face."
"Holy Scripture is above all other books not only by its authority because it is Divine, or by its utility because it leads to eternal life, but also by its antiquity and its literary form."
"Highest Father of lights, by whom every excellent thing is given and from whom every perfect gift descends, you have given me, the humblest of your servants, both the love and the aid to consider the wonders of your law, and have manifested to me, unworthy though I am, the grace to not only grasp the ancient offerings in the treasury of this prophetic book but also to discover new ones beneath the veil of the old and to bring them forth for the use of my fellow servants -- remember me with favor, oh my God."
"Christ is the morning star, who when the night of this world has passed, brings to his saints the promised light of life, and opens to them everlasting day. Amen."
"Whenever we enter the church and draw near to the heavenly mysteries, we ought to approach with all humility and fear, both because of the presence of the angelic powers and out of the reverence due to the sacred oblation. For as the angels are said to have stood by the Lord's body when it lay in the tomb, so we must believe that they are present in the celebration of the Mysteries of His most sacred Body at the time of consecration."
St Julius (d. 302), Martyr; Bulgaria; Feast day May 27th
"Lord Jesus, for whose name I suffer death, vouchsafe to receive my soul in the number of thy saints."
Sunday, May 26, 2013
May 26th
St Philip Neri (1515-1595), Confessor; Firenze, Italy; Feast day May 26th
"God has no need of man."
"Devotion to the Blessed Virgin is actually necessary, because there is no better means of obtaining God's graces than through His most holy Mother."
"We must accept the adversities which God sends us without reasoning too much upon them, and we must take for granted that it is the best thing which could happen to us."
"We must always remember that God does everything well, although we may not see the reason of what He does."
"There is nothing more to the purpose for exciting a spirit of prayer, than the reading of spiritual books."
"There is nothing good in this world: Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas."
"A man without prayer is an animal without the use of reason."
"A most excellent means of learning how to pray, is to acknowledge ourselves unworthy of such a benefit, and to put ourselves entirely into the hands of the Lord."
"The true preparation for prayer consists in the exercise of mortification; for he who wishes to give himself up to prayer without mortification, is like a bird wishing to fly before it is fledged."
"In the warfare of the flesh, only cowards gain the victory; that is to say, those who fly."
"When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, "I shall not fall, I shall not commit sin," it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with all the greater damage to his soul."
"It is a most useful thing to say often, and from the heart, 'Lord, do not put any confidence in me, for I am sure to fall if Thou dost not help me;' or, 'O my Lord, look for nothing but evil from me.'"
"The stench of impurity before God and the angels is so great, that no stench in the world can equal."
"One of the very best means of obtaining humility, is sincere and frequent confession."
"In trying to get rid of bad habits, it is of the greatest importance not to put off going to confession after a fall, and also to keep to the same confessor."
"In visiting the dying we should not say many words to them, but rather help them by praying for them."
"If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a crucifix, and think that Christ has shed all His blood for him, and not only forgave His enemies, but prayed the Eternal Father to forgive them also."
"Men are generally the carpenters of their own crosses."
"Let us concentrate ourselves so completely in the divine love, and enter so far into the living fountain of wisdom, through the wounded side of our Incarnate God, that we may deny ourselves and our self-love, and so be unable to find our way out of that Wound again."
"He who wishes to attain to perfection must have no attachment to anything."
"The Holy Spirit is the master of prayer, and causes us to abide in continual peace and cheerfulness, which is a foretaste of Paradise."
"If we wish the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray, we must practice humility and obedience."
"He who runs away from one cross, will meet a bigger one on his road."
The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri
St Philip Neri (1515-1595), Confessor; Firenze, Italy; Feast day May 26th
"God has no need of man."
"Devotion to the Blessed Virgin is actually necessary, because there is no better means of obtaining God's graces than through His most holy Mother."
"We must accept the adversities which God sends us without reasoning too much upon them, and we must take for granted that it is the best thing which could happen to us."
"We must always remember that God does everything well, although we may not see the reason of what He does."
"There is nothing more to the purpose for exciting a spirit of prayer, than the reading of spiritual books."
"There is nothing good in this world: Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas."
"A man without prayer is an animal without the use of reason."
"A most excellent means of learning how to pray, is to acknowledge ourselves unworthy of such a benefit, and to put ourselves entirely into the hands of the Lord."
"The true preparation for prayer consists in the exercise of mortification; for he who wishes to give himself up to prayer without mortification, is like a bird wishing to fly before it is fledged."
"In the warfare of the flesh, only cowards gain the victory; that is to say, those who fly."
"When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, "I shall not fall, I shall not commit sin," it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with all the greater damage to his soul."
"It is a most useful thing to say often, and from the heart, 'Lord, do not put any confidence in me, for I am sure to fall if Thou dost not help me;' or, 'O my Lord, look for nothing but evil from me.'"
"The stench of impurity before God and the angels is so great, that no stench in the world can equal."
"One of the very best means of obtaining humility, is sincere and frequent confession."
"In trying to get rid of bad habits, it is of the greatest importance not to put off going to confession after a fall, and also to keep to the same confessor."
"In visiting the dying we should not say many words to them, but rather help them by praying for them."
"If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a crucifix, and think that Christ has shed all His blood for him, and not only forgave His enemies, but prayed the Eternal Father to forgive them also."
"Men are generally the carpenters of their own crosses."
"Let us concentrate ourselves so completely in the divine love, and enter so far into the living fountain of wisdom, through the wounded side of our Incarnate God, that we may deny ourselves and our self-love, and so be unable to find our way out of that Wound again."
"He who wishes to attain to perfection must have no attachment to anything."
"The Holy Spirit is the master of prayer, and causes us to abide in continual peace and cheerfulness, which is a foretaste of Paradise."
"If we wish the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray, we must practice humility and obedience."
"He who runs away from one cross, will meet a bigger one on his road."
The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri
Saturday, May 25, 2013
May 25th
St Mary Magdalena di Pazzi (1566-1607), Virgin; Florence, Italy; Feast day May 25
"See what the infinite love of God has suffered for my salvation. This same Love sees my weakness, and gives me courage. They who call to mind the sufferings of Christ, and offer their own to God through His passion, find their pains sweet and amiable."
"O Love! Love is not loved, not known by His own creatures! O my Jesus! if I had a voice strong and loud enough that I could be heard by all men in all parts of the world, how would I cry out that this Love might be known, loved, and esteemed by all men as the only true incomprehensible good! But the cursed poison of self-love robs men of this high knowledge, and renders them incapable of it."
"Is it possible that I should take any rest while I consider how much God is offended on earth? O Love! I do it by obedience, and to fulfill Your Holy Will."
"The Will of God is ever most amiable."
"How rich a traffic have we with God when we do everything with a pure and vehement intention to please and honor Him."
"Come, souls, come, love your God who so much loves you. O Love, I die with mortal anguish when I see how little You are known and loved. O Love! Love! if You find no place to rest in, come all to me; I will lodge You. O souls created by Love, why do not you love?"
"It is impossible for one who does not love silence to take pleasure in divine things; before long he will throw himself into the very midst of the pleasures of the world."
"O Jesus, You have become foolish with love. I say it and I shall never grow weary repeating it, love has made You foolish, My Jesus."
"He who has given himself entirely to the love of his Crucified Lord needs but to look at the cross to be buried in the contemplation of the boundless love that Jesus Christ has borne him."
"If in the course of his life, a man never spoke ill of his fellowman, I would consider him a saint."
"Say nothing of an absent brother that you would not wish to say in his presence."
"When I am acting out of obedience, I am certain that I am doing the Will of God, but at other times this is not the case."
"Self-love is like the worm that gnaws at the root and destroys not only the fruit, but even the very life of the plant."
"The traitor that we have to fear most is self-love, for self-love betrays us as Judas betrayed Our Lord with a kiss. He who conquers self-love has conquered all."
St Mary Magdalena di Pazzi (1566-1607), Virgin; Florence, Italy; Feast day May 25
"See what the infinite love of God has suffered for my salvation. This same Love sees my weakness, and gives me courage. They who call to mind the sufferings of Christ, and offer their own to God through His passion, find their pains sweet and amiable."
"O Love! Love is not loved, not known by His own creatures! O my Jesus! if I had a voice strong and loud enough that I could be heard by all men in all parts of the world, how would I cry out that this Love might be known, loved, and esteemed by all men as the only true incomprehensible good! But the cursed poison of self-love robs men of this high knowledge, and renders them incapable of it."
"Is it possible that I should take any rest while I consider how much God is offended on earth? O Love! I do it by obedience, and to fulfill Your Holy Will."
"The Will of God is ever most amiable."
"How rich a traffic have we with God when we do everything with a pure and vehement intention to please and honor Him."
"Come, souls, come, love your God who so much loves you. O Love, I die with mortal anguish when I see how little You are known and loved. O Love! Love! if You find no place to rest in, come all to me; I will lodge You. O souls created by Love, why do not you love?"
"It is impossible for one who does not love silence to take pleasure in divine things; before long he will throw himself into the very midst of the pleasures of the world."
"O Jesus, You have become foolish with love. I say it and I shall never grow weary repeating it, love has made You foolish, My Jesus."
"He who has given himself entirely to the love of his Crucified Lord needs but to look at the cross to be buried in the contemplation of the boundless love that Jesus Christ has borne him."
"If in the course of his life, a man never spoke ill of his fellowman, I would consider him a saint."
"Say nothing of an absent brother that you would not wish to say in his presence."
"When I am acting out of obedience, I am certain that I am doing the Will of God, but at other times this is not the case."
"Self-love is like the worm that gnaws at the root and destroys not only the fruit, but even the very life of the plant."
"The traitor that we have to fear most is self-love, for self-love betrays us as Judas betrayed Our Lord with a kiss. He who conquers self-love has conquered all."
Friday, May 24, 2013
May 24th
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th
"Slight faults are sometimes more dangerous than greater ones, for the latter, when we behold their hideousness, awaken remorse and resolutions of amendment; but the former make less impression on us, and thus, by easily relapsing into them, we soon contract a strong habit."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"Do not despise venial sins because they appear trifling, but fear them because they are numerous. Small animals in large numbers can kill a man. Grains of sand are very small, yet, if accumulated, they can sink a ship. Drops of water are very small, yet how often they become a mighty river, a raging torrent, sweeping everything before them!"
St Gregory the Great (540-604), Confessor, Pope, Doctor of the Church; Rome, Italy; Feast day March 12th
"Slight faults are sometimes more dangerous than greater ones, for the latter, when we behold their hideousness, awaken remorse and resolutions of amendment; but the former make less impression on us, and thus, by easily relapsing into them, we soon contract a strong habit."
St Augustine (354-430), Confessor, Bishop, Father of the Church; Thagaste, Algeria; Feast day August 28th
"Do not despise venial sins because they appear trifling, but fear them because they are numerous. Small animals in large numbers can kill a man. Grains of sand are very small, yet, if accumulated, they can sink a ship. Drops of water are very small, yet how often they become a mighty river, a raging torrent, sweeping everything before them!"
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