St. Philip

"ST. PHILIP was born at Florence, and practiced medicine some time at Paris. But returning home he applied himself to solicitude and prayer in a religious house which he entered, and was afterwards ordained priest. He spent his life in seeking the lost sheep, laboring every where to reclaim wicked Christians from their evil ways, and those that were seduced, from their errors, as likewise to make peace wherever he found differences, whether public or private. In this method he lived, till God called him to the reward of his labors, in 1285.

Follow the same method: whatever your employment be, you are to find time for prayer and recollection of spirit. If you seem not to have this time, be faithful and sincere in examining how far this is true; for sloth, tepidity, and indifference have many hindrances, which industry, resolution, and contrivance would find ways to remove. It is not a Christian's part to conclude that things cannot be done, because they cannot be done easily. Be helpful to others, in making them sensible of their evil ways. Be charitable in composing differences: sweetness and moderation are effectual for this end. Give no occasion to any misunderstanding between neighbors. For this end, never inform any one what you have heard another say of him. For this cannot be done, without betraying a trust reposed in you, in being a witness to such a discourse. It is seldom done without prejudice to truth, in making the affair worse than it was; and it cannot be done without the hazard of injustice; since the person who said it may have spoken inconsiderately, and may have repented of his rashness. Nor can it be done without a breach of charity, in doing otherwise than you would have others do by you. This informing temper ought to be avoided by all who love peace or hope for the reward of charity. Silence is far better than such tale bearing, by which Christians forget their profession, and make themselves the agents of the devil. Consider this well: pray and watch against this pernicious evil; and never encourage those who are given to it." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"The father of St. Jane Frances was left a widower whilst his children were in their infancy: but he took care to train them to every religious duty, and this saint profited by this holy education above all the rest. She was married at twenty years of age to the Baron de Chantal, an officer of distinction in the French army. She made it her first care to establish regularity in her family. She scarcely ever admitted any company, and never stirred abroad; knowing it to be the delight of a good wife to watch over her servants, children, and domestic concerns, and to shun the snares of dissipation, levity, vanity, love of trifling, and much loss of time. She employed all her leisure hours, either at her work, or in daily exercises of prayer and pious reading.

Strive to imitate the eminent virtues, which this saint ever practiced and inculcated. Bear one another's burdens, and suffer nothing to cool your charity towards any one. Let mildness be the natural and constant frame of your soul, which no provocation must ever disturb. Temper corrections and reproofs with such tenderness and charity, as to give no one uneasiness: conceal and bear all personal injuries, and repay affronts with blessings and favors."

Novena and prayers to St. Jane Frances de Chantal: O Glorious saint, blessed Jane Frances, who, by thy fervent prayer, attention to the divine Presence, and purity of intention in thy actions, didst attain on earth an intimate union with God, be now our advocate, our mother, our guide in the path of virtue and perfection. Plead our cause near Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, to whom thou wast so tenderly devoted, and whose holy virtues thou didst so closely imitate.

Obtain for us, O amiable and compassionate saint, the virtues thou seest most necessary for us; and ardent love of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, a tender and filial confidence in His blessed Mother, and, like thee, a constant remembrance of His sacred passion and death. Obtain also, we pray thee, that our particular intention in this novena may be fulfilled.

v. St. Jane Frances, pray for us

r. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Almighty and merciful God, Who didst grant Blessed St. Jane Frances, so inflamed with the love of Thee, a wonderful degree of fortitude through all the paths of life, and wast pleased through her adorn Thy Church with a new Religious order; grant, by her merits and prayers, that we, who, sensible of our weakness, confide in Thy strength, may overcome all adversities with the help of Thy heavenly grace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Prayer to Implore Fidelity to Divine Grace: O Great St. Jane Frances! who, to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, when thou west called to the religious state, didst despise all the ties of nature and of blood; obtain for us also the grace to correspond faithfully with all divine impulses, and to sacrifice to God whatever is most dear and precious to us.

For Perfect Conformity: O great St. Jane France, who didst execute, with the utmost exactness, thy singular and difficult vow to do always what thou didst recognize as most perfect; obtain for us the grace always to aspire to the acquisition of the most sublime sanctity, and never to omit any means which we know may conduce to this end.

Source: Blessed Sacrament Book By Fr. Francis Xavier Lasance

Conversion of the Duke of Aquitaine

 Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen. By Saint Bernard

Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

"ST. BERNARD was born in Burgundy, and finding great difficulties in living up to the rules of the Gospel in the world, at the age of two-and-twenty entered into a religious house of the Cistercian monks. Here he applied himself wholly to the exercises of humility, piety, watching, and prayer; and was so rigorous in fasting, that at length eating became a greater mortification to him than abstinence. He refused great dignities, several times offered to him. He labored very much in composing many differences among Christian princes, and settling all ecclesiastical affairs, particularly here in England, under King Henry II., to whom he wrote many letters. He has left great proofs of his wonderful piety and learning in his writings. He died at the age of sixty-three, in the year 1153.

Pray for all the religious of his order, who from him are called Bernardines.From the pious resolution of this saint, who, the better to secure his salvation, withdrew from the world, reflect seriously on the world, and considering its common method, see how far you are obliged to forsake it, for securing your eternal good. Do you not observe that it goes contrary to the gospel, and not only approves, but encourages those very things, which are condemned by Christ? It promotes all manner of vanity, pride, and intemperance: it recommends pleasures, sensuality, idleness, and ease. It puts you upon all manner of curiosities, detraction, and revenge. It sets a value on all that is temporal, and disesteems whatever is for your eternal advantage. What, in these unhappy circumstances, can you do? If you follow the world, you are miserable; if you do not follow it, you appear ridiculous. This is the condition of those who live in the world. Can you then wonder at those who retire from it? Do you not see that they choose the much better part, in avoiding both its snares and its censures? If you are not called to this, you are obliged to come as near it as you can, in not being one of the world, while you live in it. live in it. And how can this be, but by taking in all things that way which it most disapproves, and forsaking that which it admires? It passes very wrong judgments upon every thing: therefore, how can you go right, but by letting its censures direct you in what you are to choose? This it will call folly: but is not the folly of the world the wisdom of Christ? If you have not courage to pursue this method, you have not the courage necessary to secure you from those dangers in which you live. For if you cannot stand against the torrent, you must be carried down by it: if you cannot overcome the world, you must be overcome by it. And if that perishes, what will become of you? These circumstances are very hard; watch then and, pray, and let your daily endeavors be answerable to the dangers in which you live." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"ST. HYACINTH was born in Poland; and his parents diligently cultivated his natural disposition to virtue. He preserved an unspotted innocence of manners through the dangerous paths of youth. Being employed by his bishop as his assistant in the administration of his diocese, he shewed great prudence, capacity, and zeal. After some time, he was admitted into the Order of the Dominicans by the holy founder himself; where his sole occupation was the study and practice of humility, patience, abstinence, and piety. His austerity was great, in giving little rest to his body. His prayer was what St. Paul advises, without ceasing. His charity was extraordinary, in endeavoring to reclaim all from vice, both by word and example. Having lived in this method nearly forty years, he made a happy end in the year 1257.

Pray for some degrees of his holy spirit. Examine into your present method, as to eating, sleeping, and praying. Consider your excesses, and beg pardon. Pray for the gift of temperance and moderation. If you cannot approve of rigors, yet see that you flatter not yourself in all your inclinations. Endeavor to be easily pleased, and avoid niceness, for it is the effect of self love, and self-love has no title to heaven. If your temper be,to be out of humor and displeased, if every thing be not according to your will, see that you be as exact in doing the will of God, as you expect others should be in doing yours: otherwise, the exactness you demand from others, will be the condemnation of your neglects in regard of God. Give good example to all. It is a kind of spiritual alms, of which all are capable. For this, it is not enough not to scandalize your neighbor by what is sinful, but you are to suppress all your passions and ill-humors. For these being contagious, are so far from edifying, that they may easily injure those, who are witnesses of them. Pray that you may be exact in all duties, and endeavor to be so. Such a life is the best preparation for a happy death." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"ST. JOACHIM was father of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A day for all parents to offer up their prayers to Almighty God, that they may be faithful in the discharge of their duties towards their children, in giving them good instruction, good example, and due correction. God requires these at their hands; and to be wanting in any one part is not consistent with a good conscience, but may easily come to be the loss of their children's souls. Failing in these duties, is one of the great occasions of so general a corruption of youth; whilst parents, whose care ought to be to cultivate their yet tender souls, train them up in the corrupt maxims of the world, put them forward in those things which promote liberty, vanity, pride, and sensuality, and give them an early knowledge of what they must either unlearn, or else perish in practising, This unhappy method St. John Chrysostom long ago lamented; and after having considered the solicitude of parents in procuring for their children what is superfluous and unprofitable, and neglecting what is necessary, condemns such parents as the greatest enemies of their children, and contrivers, not only of their temporal, but eternal misfortunes. If you have any part in this guilt, seek timely remedies, if it be yet in your power. Let not weak nature be now your rule, but solid reason and religion: and ever force inclination to bend to these. Study not to gain your children's love by what is likely to make them miserable, and be one day the punishment of your own indiscretion. Their inclinations and desires are naturally corrupt, and they apprehend not the mischievous effects of them. Therefore are parents put over them, prudently to moderate and overrule them. If you do not this, you pervert the order which God has established; instead of governing, permitting yourself to be governed by them; and in this depriving them of all the benefits designed them in their parent's care; and exposing them to the ill consequences of their own weakness, follies, and passions. Pray for remedy against this crying evil; and if you have no part in it, pray at least for those who have; for it is a point that deserves universal charity." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

MORAL REFLECTION.- "For it doth not become our age to dissemble," said the holy old man Simeon, "lest through my dissimulation many should be deceived."-(2 Mach. vi. 24.)

"ST. CLARE was born at Assisium in Italy, and moved by the example of St. Francis, gave all that she had to the poor.Before the altar of the Blessed Virgin she put off her fine clothes, and St. Francis cut off her hair, and gave her his penitential habit, which was no other than a piece of sackcloth tied round with a cord. She afterwards instituted a religious Order of nuns, called from her, poor Clares; obliging them to great austerity, in perpetual abstinence from flesh meat, using no soft beds, nor linen, and going barefoot. Her esteem of holy poverty was admirable. She looked upon it as the retrenchment of the most dangerous objects of the passions, and as the great school of patience and mortification, Frayer was her spiritual comfort and strength, and she seemed scarcely ever to interrupt that holy exercise. Having lived with her religious above forty years, being at length exhausted with fasting, prayer, and watching, she surrendered her soul to God, in 1253. Pray for all the religious of this Order; and praise God for that wonderful spirit of sanctity, which is still preserved among them. Wonder at the zeal of so many tender virgins, who renouncing all the softness, superfluity, and vanity of their education, engage and persevere in a life of so much hardship and severity. Let this be a reproach to you of all your contrary methods. Learn from them how little is sufficient for nature; and see how much you have wasted. You may pity them for being deprived of so many satisfactions which you enjoy: but consider whether they are unhappy in the want, or you in the enjoyment of them. They deprive themselves of that only which is superfluous and dangerous; and by thus seeking yourself, put your salvation to the hazard. Which then has chosen the better part?" The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Prayer to St. Clare:

O blessed saint, who didst give thyself so early to Jesus, grant that I may imitate thy blessed example, as far as my state in life will permit, and that I may never prove a hindrance, either in word or deed, to any who desire to consecrate themselves to God, as you did. Oh! dear saint, whose very name is light, and whose heart was ever full of such tender love to Jesus crucified, obtain for me the grace of Divine light and guidance in all my undertakings, and of such ardent love of my adorable Savior that I may be willing, nay rather that I may prefer to endure any suffering sooner than offend Him, even by a wilful imperfection. And as thou wast conducted to heaven by the Blessed and Immaculate Mother of God, oh! intercede with her for me that I may SO love and serve her in life as to be worthy to be received into her maternal arms in the hour of my death, and to be presented by her to Jesus. Amen.