August 29
The Beheading of St John the Baptist
Ut Queant Laxis
So that these your servants can, with all their voice, to sing your wonderful feats, clean the blemish of our spotted lips, O St John!
An angel came from the heavens to announce to your father the greatness of our birth, dictating your name and destination.
He doubted of these divine promises and was deprived of the use of the speech; but when you were born he recovered his lost voice.
Still locked in your mother's breast, you felt the King's presence housed in the vestal womb. And prophet before being born, you revealed this mystery to your parents.
Glory be to the Father and to the engendered Son; glory similar to the Holy Spirit that is knot of both, for every century. Amen.
.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
August 28
St Augustine of Hippo (354-430); Bishop, Doctor of the Church; feast day August 28
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."
“And men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty waves of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, yet pass over the mystery of themselves without a thought.”
“Belatedly I loved thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new, belatedly I loved thee. For see, thou wast within and I was without, and I sought thee out there. Unlovely, I rushed heedlessly among the lovely things thou hast made. Thou wast with me, but I was not with thee. These things kept me far from thee; even though they were not at all unless they were in thee. Thou didst call and cry aloud, and didst force open my deafness. Thou didst gleam and shine, and didst chase away my blindness. Thou didst breathe fragrant odors and I drew in my breath; and now I pant for thee. I tasted, and now I hunger and thirst. Thou didst touch me, and I burned for thy peace.”
“You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.”
“Too late came I to love you, O Beauty both so ancient and so new! Too late came I to love you - and behold you were with me all the time . . .”
“You called and shouted and burst my deafness. You flashed, shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors, and I drew in breath and panted for You. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.”
“Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself back to me. Lo, I love you, but if my love is too mean, let me love more passionately. I cannot gauge my love, nor know how far it fails, how much more love I need for my life to set its course straight into your arms, never swerving until hidden in the covert of your face. This alone I know, that without you all to me is misery, woe outside myself and woe within, and all wealth but penury, if it is not my God.”
"O God, Who art always the same! May I know myself, may I know Thee."
St Augustine of Hippo (354-430); Bishop, Doctor of the Church; feast day August 28
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."
“And men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty waves of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, yet pass over the mystery of themselves without a thought.”
“Belatedly I loved thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new, belatedly I loved thee. For see, thou wast within and I was without, and I sought thee out there. Unlovely, I rushed heedlessly among the lovely things thou hast made. Thou wast with me, but I was not with thee. These things kept me far from thee; even though they were not at all unless they were in thee. Thou didst call and cry aloud, and didst force open my deafness. Thou didst gleam and shine, and didst chase away my blindness. Thou didst breathe fragrant odors and I drew in my breath; and now I pant for thee. I tasted, and now I hunger and thirst. Thou didst touch me, and I burned for thy peace.”
“You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.”
“Too late came I to love you, O Beauty both so ancient and so new! Too late came I to love you - and behold you were with me all the time . . .”
“You called and shouted and burst my deafness. You flashed, shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors, and I drew in breath and panted for You. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.”
“Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself back to me. Lo, I love you, but if my love is too mean, let me love more passionately. I cannot gauge my love, nor know how far it fails, how much more love I need for my life to set its course straight into your arms, never swerving until hidden in the covert of your face. This alone I know, that without you all to me is misery, woe outside myself and woe within, and all wealth but penury, if it is not my God.”
"O God, Who art always the same! May I know myself, may I know Thee."
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
August 27
St Joseph Calasanctius (1557-1648), priest, founder; feast day August 27
"My work was done solely for the love of God."
St John Chrysostom (347-407), bishop, doctor of the Church; feast day September 13
"...God stands continually waiting, if any of his servants should perchance call Him and never, when we have called as we ought, hath He refused to hear."
St Joseph Calasanctius (1557-1648), priest, founder; feast day August 27
"My work was done solely for the love of God."
St John Chrysostom (347-407), bishop, doctor of the Church; feast day September 13
"...God stands continually waiting, if any of his servants should perchance call Him and never, when we have called as we ought, hath He refused to hear."
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Visitation, July 2nd
St Elizabeth (c. 1st cen.), Mother, St John the Baptist; Hebron, Palestine; Feast day November 5
"Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how have I deserved that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, the moment that the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who has believed, because the things promised her by the Lord shall be accomplished."
St Mary (c. 1st cen.), Virgin, Mother of God; Nazareth, Palestine
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because He has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty has done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation to generation to them that fear Him. He has shown might in His arm; He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones; and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy, even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. Amen."
"Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how have I deserved that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, the moment that the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who has believed, because the things promised her by the Lord shall be accomplished."
St Mary (c. 1st cen.), Virgin, Mother of God; Nazareth, Palestine
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because He has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty has done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation to generation to them that fear Him. He has shown might in His arm; He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones; and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy, even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. Amen."
Monday, July 1, 2013
July 1st
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Thorens-Glieres, France; Feast day January 29th
"Two sorts of persons ought to go frequently to Communion: the perfect, in order to remain so; and the imperfect, in order to become perfect."
St Bonaventure (1221-1274), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Bagnoregio, Italy; Feast day July 14
Although it be with lukewarmness, still approach Holy Communion, trusting in the mercy of God. The more one feels himself sick, the greater need has he of a physician."
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), Bishop, Confessor, Founder; Marianella, Italy; Feast day August 2nd
"The Eternal Father has made Jesus Christ the possessor of all His own heavenly treasures. The Father has given all things into His hands. Hence, when Jesus Christ comes to a soul in Holy Communion, He brings with Him boundless treasures of grace; and consequently after Commnion we can justly say, 'Now all good things came to me together with it.'"
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Thorens-Glieres, France; Feast day January 29th
"Two sorts of persons ought to go frequently to Communion: the perfect, in order to remain so; and the imperfect, in order to become perfect."
St Bonaventure (1221-1274), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church; Bagnoregio, Italy; Feast day July 14
Although it be with lukewarmness, still approach Holy Communion, trusting in the mercy of God. The more one feels himself sick, the greater need has he of a physician."
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), Bishop, Confessor, Founder; Marianella, Italy; Feast day August 2nd
"The Eternal Father has made Jesus Christ the possessor of all His own heavenly treasures. The Father has given all things into His hands. Hence, when Jesus Christ comes to a soul in Holy Communion, He brings with Him boundless treasures of grace; and consequently after Commnion we can justly say, 'Now all good things came to me together with it.'"
June 30th
St Paul (5-67), Apostle, Martyr; Tarsus, Asia Minor; Feast day June 30th
"Brethren: Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who though He was by nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to, but emptied Himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men. And appearing in the form of man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has exalted Him and has bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father."
"Brethren: If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, shall appear, then you too will appear with Him in glory."
"Brethren: I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us. For the eager longing of creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For creation was made subject to vanity -- not by its own will but by reason of Him Who made it subject -- in hope, because creation itself also will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God. For we know that all creation groans and travails in pain until now. And not only it, but we ourselves also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit -- we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption as sons of God, the redemption of our body, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. May no temptation take hold of you but such as man is equal to. God is faithful and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also give you a way out that you may be able to bear it."
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows in the flesh, from the flesh also will reap corruption. But he who sows in the spirit, from the spirit will reap life everlasting. And in doing good let us not grow tired; for in due time we shall reap if we do not relax. Therefore, while we have time, let us do good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of faith."
"Brethren: I pray you not to be disheartened at my tribulations for you, for they are your glory. For this reason I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth receives its name, that He may grant you from His glorious riches to be strengthened with power through His Spirit unto the progress of the inner man; and to have Christ dwelling through faith in your hearts: so that, being rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. Now, to Him Who is able to accomplish all things in a measure far beyond what we ask or conceive, in keeping with thepower that is at work in us -- to Him be glory in the Chruscch and in Crhrist Jesus ddown through all the ages of time without end. Amern."
St Paul (5-67), Apostle, Martyr; Tarsus, Asia Minor; Feast day June 30th
"Brethren: Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who though He was by nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to, but emptied Himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men. And appearing in the form of man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has exalted Him and has bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father."
"Brethren: If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, shall appear, then you too will appear with Him in glory."
"Brethren: I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us. For the eager longing of creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For creation was made subject to vanity -- not by its own will but by reason of Him Who made it subject -- in hope, because creation itself also will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God. For we know that all creation groans and travails in pain until now. And not only it, but we ourselves also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit -- we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption as sons of God, the redemption of our body, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. May no temptation take hold of you but such as man is equal to. God is faithful and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also give you a way out that you may be able to bear it."
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows in the flesh, from the flesh also will reap corruption. But he who sows in the spirit, from the spirit will reap life everlasting. And in doing good let us not grow tired; for in due time we shall reap if we do not relax. Therefore, while we have time, let us do good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of faith."
"Brethren: I pray you not to be disheartened at my tribulations for you, for they are your glory. For this reason I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth receives its name, that He may grant you from His glorious riches to be strengthened with power through His Spirit unto the progress of the inner man; and to have Christ dwelling through faith in your hearts: so that, being rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. Now, to Him Who is able to accomplish all things in a measure far beyond what we ask or conceive, in keeping with thepower that is at work in us -- to Him be glory in the Chruscch and in Crhrist Jesus ddown through all the ages of time without end. Amern."
Sunday, June 30, 2013
June 29th
St Peter (d. 64/67), Apostle, Pope, Martyr; Bethsaida, Palestine; Feast day June 29th
"Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
"Behold, O Lord, we have left all things and have followed thee."
"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."
"Thou are Christ, the Son of the living God."
"Be prudent therefore and watchful in prayers. But above all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves; for charity covers a multitude of sins."
"Lay aside therefore all malice, and all deceit, and pretense, and envy, and all slander. Crave, as newborn babes, pure spiritual mild, that by it you may grow to salvation; if, indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is sweet. Draw near to Him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and honored by God."
"You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; that you may proclaim the perfections of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in the time of visitation; cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be sober, be watchful! For your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering befalls your brethren all over the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself, after we have suffered a little while, perfect, strengthen and establish us. To Him is the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
St Peter (d. 64/67), Apostle, Pope, Martyr; Bethsaida, Palestine; Feast day June 29th
"Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
"Behold, O Lord, we have left all things and have followed thee."
"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."
"Thou are Christ, the Son of the living God."
"Be prudent therefore and watchful in prayers. But above all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves; for charity covers a multitude of sins."
"Lay aside therefore all malice, and all deceit, and pretense, and envy, and all slander. Crave, as newborn babes, pure spiritual mild, that by it you may grow to salvation; if, indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is sweet. Draw near to Him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and honored by God."
"You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; that you may proclaim the perfections of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in the time of visitation; cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be sober, be watchful! For your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering befalls your brethren all over the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself, after we have suffered a little while, perfect, strengthen and establish us. To Him is the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
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