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.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
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."
Thursday, April 11, 2013
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!"
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!"
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."
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