Saint John the Silent, Hermit 532
by VP
Posted on Tuesday May 13, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
DISCRETION. St. John, surnamed "the Silent," was born of one of the richest families at Nicopolis, in Armenia. He employed his wealth in constructing a church, dedicated to the Mother of God, and a monastery, into which he retired. His eminent virtues caused him to be elected bishop of Colonia at the age of 28. His piety, humility, and zeal for the salvation of the flock confided to his care, were producing the happiest results when serious differences, which arose between him and his brother-in-law, the governor of Armenia, against whom he found himself forced to complain to the emperor Zeno, caused him greatly to regret his previous manner of life. He resigned his charge at the expiration of nine years, and withdrew to a solitude, there to give himself to a mortified life and the fervent exercise of prayer. He subsequently retired to the monastery of St. Sabas, where he obtained the favour of still remaining alone, in order to apply himself more intimately to a contemplative life. He had adopted as a rule never to speak, save in case of necessity, and to speak with such discretion as that no word of his might be either wrong in itself or useless. He died about the year 560.
MORAL REFLECTION.-The Holy Spirit has said, by the
mouth of the Wise Man: "In the multitude of words there shall not want
sin, but he that refraineth his lips is most wise."-(Prov. x. 19.). The Pictuorial Half Hours with the Saints by Abbe Lecanu
SS. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, and Pancratius
by VP
Posted on Monday May 12, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
" SS. Nerues and Achilleus held distinguished places in the service of St. Flavia Domitilla; and were baptized with her, and with her banished by the Emperor Domitian into a small island. Having, under many torments, with great constancy, protested that they would never sacrifice to idols, they were afterwards beheaded. St. Domitilla having suffered great extremities in a long confinement under Trajan, was burnt with two other companions in her chamber, which the judge commanded to be set on fire. St. Pancratius or Pancras, at the age of fourteen, having been baptized by the bishop of Rome, and accused for his faith in Christ, with a manly courage refusing to sacrifice to idols, was put to death under Dioclesian.
See how persons of both sexes, of all ages and conditions, teach you to suffer, and shew you the way to a crown. If in patience they possess their souls and God, is not impatience the way
to lose both? While then you honour these martyrs, renounce not their
example. Pray for constancy and patience under all trials. There is no
need of the hand of the executioner: for in every trouble which befals you, you are called to the exercise of these virtues. Take care then not to be provoked and moved to passion: let not ordinary accidents put you into disorder. The steadiness of a Christian spirit demands this of you.
And under greater troubles, use all endeavours to keep up your spirits.
Pray, read, advise, and see that you lay not your heart open to your
enemy, by indulging in melancholy. Resolve rather to struggle with all
difficulties. Remember that you are in the field of battle;
a place not to sit down in and mourn, but to fight. Fight then with
courage; arm yourself with faith and hope in God. God is looking on, heaven is waiting to crown the conquerors with bliss; and everlasting rest is to be the recompense of those, who with patience go through these temporal evils." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Ss. Philip and James, apostles
by VP
Posted on Sunday May 11, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
Paolo Veronese: Saints Philip and James the Less
"They were apostles of our Lord: pray for all who succeed in that function, that by their zealous labours, the whole world may be enlightened, and brought to the knowledge and love of God.
They both laid down their lives for Christ, confirming their doctrine with their blood. St. Philip was crucified; St. James suffered a manifold martyrdom, in being first stoned, then thrown down from a pinnacle of the temple, and lastly, being yet alive, and praying for his persecutors, had his brains dashed out with a club. Pray for all those who are under any kind of persecution for truth or justice, that they may persevere to the end with the patience, constancy, and charity of these apostles.
On this (...) day of the month, while you profess to honour these apostles, resolve to live in the practice of the doctrine which they preached, by renouncing the corrupt customs of the world, and taking the Gospel for your rule. Examine the method of your life, and compare it with this rule; beg grace to reform whatever you find amiss, and let the blood of these martyrs inform you, how much you ought to suffer in this cause. He that has not patience under the unavoidable mortifications of a virtuous life, is not yet disposed to give his life for Christ. Learn to put yourself in this disposition from these holy apostles, in the lessons which they give you.
In these holy men, leaving all to follow Christ, and thus becoming His apostles, we have a lesson, that we cannot be followers of Christ,
but by leaving something for Him. They left all; and we are to be in a
preparation for leaving all, whenever He pleases to call us to it. But
can this be reasonably expected, unless by proportionate steps we
endeavour to bring our souls to this holy disposition? We are therefore,
first, to leave all that is sinful: because a state of sin is a rebellion against God, and an aversion of the heart wholly from Him; and it is therefore inconsistent with the very lowest degree of a follower of Christ. They must be blind and mad, who in this state flatter themselves with the thoughts of being
prepared to leave all for Him. Secondly, we are to leave all that is
evidently dangerous: because living in voluntary dangers, is a state
either of presumption or neglect, in rashly expecting God's grace, or being too little concerned for that divine assistance; both which are great dispositions for leaving God, but not of leaving all for Him. Thirdly, we are to leave whatever draws our hearts away from God, and fixes them with immoderate affection on creatures; because all such affections diminish the love of God,
by which alone we are prevailed upon to forsake all for Him. Therefore
such as desire in good earnest to put their souls in the true disposition of Christ's disciples, are very jealous of everything
that is prejudicial to that love which they ought to have for Him. So
that in whatever degree their state obliges them to make use of creatures, in the same
proportion is their care to preserve their hearts from excessive
affection for what they use. They avoid all attachment to grandeur and
state, while their circumstances oblige them to it; they love not riches
while they possess them. And so of all other things, which please the appetite, court the fancy, and are too apt insensibly to engage the heart,
and draw it from its more substantial good. So that, however they are
circumstanced, as to outward possessions, they are ever solicitous to
preserve interior poverty, which is the poverty of spirit, one of the best titles to eternal riches, and the best character of a true disciple. This is the only expedient, by which those who live in plenty and honour, can pretend to the spirit of the Gospel. For if amidst all their greatness, there be not poverty of spirit, it is plain that as they possess and use the world, so they enjoy and love the world: and this is not the spirit of Christ, but contrary to all that he has taught. Leaving therefore all, either in reality or in spirit, is indispensably necessary for all those, who undertake in earnest to follow Christ." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Pleasure in serving God
by VP
Posted on Sunday May 11, 2025 at 12:00AM in Sermons
Bernhard Plockhorst
(1825–1907)
"Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice."— Phil. iv. 4.
"It has often been noticed, my dear brethren, and we every day come across examples of it, that when things are going well men think very little about God and about the practice of their religious duties. We may almost say that, as things are at present, most men will not perform their duty to God unless they are driven to do so by something unpleasant and hard to bear. It is when a man is taken ill that he sends for a priest and makes his confession and receives the Sacraments; as soon, however, as he gets well it is only too probable that he will return to his old ways.
Now, this shows that the service of God is felt by a great many to be a heavy burden and yoke. And I am sorry to say that this feeling is not confined to those whose passions and low propensities are so strong as to hold them down for a great part of their lives in slavery and subjection to sin and vice. Many even of those who have freed themselves for the most part from this degrading bondage seem far from the possession of that spirit of holy joy with which every one trying to serve God should be filled. Many even of these seem to find the yoke of the Lord a heavy one: and if they do not cast it off, it is chiefly because they are afraid to do so.
Now, I am not going to say a word against the service of God which springs from the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom.” The fear of God is not merely good-it is necessary for salvation. But it is only the beginning, not the perfection of wisdom. Moreover, it should not be the habitual dominant and constant motive of our religious life it should serve as a motive to fall back upon when higher motives are not felt. As St. Ignatius says: We should ask of God the grace to fear Him, so that if and when through our faults we grow forgetful of God's love, the fear of punishment may hold us back from offending Him. In other words, we ought, as a rule, to be serving God from love and holy joy rather than from fear and dread.
This is the teaching of the Holy Scripture, and especially of the great Apostle our patron, St. Paul. The text is but a sample of similar injunctions which might be found in every one of his Epistles "Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice." Do not be always looking upon the service of God as a heavy burden and yoke to which you must be driven as a fear of punishment, but let that service fill your souls at all times with delight and satisfaction. This is what St. Paul enjoins. Why is it not so with us? Why should it be so?
Well, there are ten thousand reasons why the service of God should be delightful and satisfactory; but I can refer to one only this morning— one, however, of which I think that we can all feel the force. As a rule, the man who is carrying on a profitable and successful business is, so long as everything goes well, tolerably happy. You don't see him going about with a long face, and although he may grumble a little, as most men do, you can see that he does not mean it. Now, if this is the case in the midst of the uncertainties which are inseparable from all human transactions, what ought to be the satisfaction and contentment of a man who has seriously taken in hand the one necessary business? For how does the case stand with such a man? The man who has seriously taken in hand the business of saving his own soul must succeed - for him there is no such thing as failure. So long as he is willing he must be prosperous. And why? Because he has Almighty God as a partner. And God is ready to give him what I hope it is not irreverent to call unlimited credit. In this life he pours into his soul His heavenly grace, and this grace gives to all his actions a value which gives him a right to an eternal recompense. No action from morning to night, from week's end to week's end, but may be made profitable and fruitful, if done with a right intention, and, of course, if there is nothing sinful in it. This is the position in which any and every man may be placed and may remain if he so wills, and of the sense and judgment of a man who is not satisfied by such terms I have but a poor opinion." (Third Sunday after Easter - Five-minute Sermons from the Paulist Fathers)
Saint Mamertus
by VP
Posted on Sunday May 11, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
An engraving of Saint Mamertus from an 1878 book, Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints
PUBLIC PRAYER. Public prayer is the remedy for public calamities, even as private prayer is for individual evils. Towards the middle of the fifth century, Gaul was the victim of multiplied woes, civil wars, epidemics, inundations, earthquakes and conflagrations. All nature was in throes, and seemed awaiting still greater disasters; wild beasts, quitting their forest haunts, roamed at large in the midst of the thronging cities; every event was converted into dread forebodings, and the inhabitants generally were out of heart and sunk in discouragement. The church of Vienne then possessed a holy bishop who was the model, the hope, and object of love to all his flock. He directed that solemn supplications, not then usually resorted to, should be instituted in order to revive the courage of the faithful and turn aside the wrath of Heaven; he further ordered fasting and prayer to be combined. God, who had already favoured him with miracles, gave heed to these supplications, and the calamities ceased. Hence originated the "Rogation days, which were afterwards adopted by the Church at large. St. Mamertus, their founder, died in 477.
MORAL REFLECTION.-There is no instance of public
prayer having remained without result. "All that you ask in my name
shall be given unto you," has Jesus Christ promised.—(John xvi. 23.) Pictorial Half Hours with the Saints, Abbe Lecanu
Saint Damien of Molokai, Priest, Apostle of the Afflicted
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 10, 2025 at 11:48AM in Saints
- Quote: "The Blessed Sacrament is indeed the stimulus for us all, for me as it should be for you, to forsake all worldly ambitions. Without the constant presence of our Divine Master upon the altar in my poor chapels, I never could have persevered casting my lot with the afflicted of Molokai; the foreseen consequence of which begins now to appear on my skin, and is felt thoughout the body. Holy Communion being the daily bread of a priest, I feel myself happy, well pleased, and resigned in the rather exceptional circumstances in which it has pleased Divine Providence to put me."
"Father Damien was the first white worker to live permanently at Kalawo,
arriving on Molokai with nothing but his breviary. While awaiting lumber
to build a house, he lived under a pandanus tree by the side of St. Philomena chapel. During the day he immersed himself in work necessary
for the improvement of the colony. His immediate concern of course, the
reason for his placement there, was attending to the people's spiritual
needs. This he accomplished by visiting them in their huts and
administering the Sacraments at their deathbed.
Damien realized that before future efforts could be made to improve the
lot of these luckless people, a firm spiritual foundation had to be
laid. Both Catholics and non-Catholics were welcome at Mass. Knowing the
Hawaiian love of ceremony, he conducted elaborate religious services.
Sunday High Mass became the highlight of the week. The nuns in Honolulu
sent red soutanes and lace surplices for the altar and choir boys.
Damien revived interest in music and singing. Membership in the choir
became a great honor for both children and adults, and choir practice
frequently took place in the evenings under the trees. A band was
organized, whose primitive instruments were soon replaced with better
ones from Honolulu. Many religious processions and fiestas were
instituted, the biggest event of the year being on the feast day or
Corpus Christi. This celebration was prepared for weeks in advance.
Flowers were gathered and woven into wreaths, and on the feast day,
while Damien carried the Blessed Sacrament through the village, children
strewed petals along the way and other parishioners joined in hymns.
Damien conducted religious services with as much pomp and sacred music
as possible, and by his earnest and constant preaching endeavored to win
more souls to God. At the same time, he was continually at the service
of all the unfortunate inmates, whatever their religion, in a variety of
ways." St. Philomena Catholic Church (Father Damien's Church)
Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Molokai, Hawaii 1985 page 16.
- "Were it not for the constant presence of our Divine Master in our humble chapel, I would not have found it possible to persevere in sharing the lot of the afflicted in Molokai... The Eucharist is the bread that gives strenght... It is at once the most eloquent proof of His Love and the most powerful means of fostering His love in us. He gives Himself every day so that our hearts as burning coals may set afire the hearts of the faithful"
Prayer:
Saint Damien, brother on the journey, happy and generous missionary, who loved the Gospel more than your life, who for love of Jesus left your family, your homeland, your security, your dreams, teach us to give our lives with a joy like yours, to be in solidarity with the outcasts of the world, to celebrate and contemplate the Eucharist as the source of our commitment. Help us to love to the very end and, in the strength of the Spirit, to persevere in compassion for the poor and forgotten so that we might be good disciples of Jesus and Mary. Amen (Diocese of Honolulu)
St. Antoninus, Bishop and Confessor, A.D. 1459.
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 10, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was born at Florence; and at the age of sixteen entered the order of St. Dominic. His great care was to be always employed; and therefore allowing only so much time to sleep as was necessary to recruit nature, he divided all the rest among prayer, reading, and writing. This his Christian industry was accompanied with the constant exercises of humility and mortification. Being thus distinguished by his great virtue and learning, he was called forth by the apostolic see, and obliged to undertake charge of the church of Florence. In this dignity, his table, dress, and furniture shewed a perfect spirit of poverty and simplicity. In the midst of his exterior affairs, he always preserved the same serenity of countenance, and the same peace of mind, and seemed always recollected in God. Having satisfied all the duties of a good pastor, by his wonderful zeal and charity, he died in the year 1459.
Pray for all the bishops in God's Church, that the example of this saint may be their rule. Pray for all ecclesiastics, that having undertaken a laborious charge, they may not seek rest and ease. Consider your own circumstances, and endeavour that the devil may never find you idle. Give not more time to sleep than is reasonable; and let not your inclinations be consulted, to know when it is time to rise. This seems to be a point inconsiderable, and yet very much depends upon it. For by this one may easily guess at the management of your whole life; the industry or sloth of this first act generally going through all the actions of the day. Avoid as far as is consistent with your state, all idle meetings, and dissipating company. These are the first steps to many evils. There may be pretexts enough to carry you to them; but is it not a reflection on men of sense and abilities to stand in need of such helps? How many other ways might they be better employed or diverted, would they consult better advisers than sloth and inclination? And if there happens to be some mortification in it, who can pretend to a Christian life without mortification? Pray for the grace of God and his Holy Spirit, that these may be your guides both in business and recreation." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayer:
"Pray, O holy Pontiff, for the descendants of them that were faithless to the promise sealed on the very altar on which your hands so often offered up the Sacrifice of unity and peace. Disciple of the great Dominic, inheritor of his burning zeal, protect the holy order which he founded and of which you are so bright an ornament. Show that you still love it. Give it increase and procure for its children the holiness that once worked such loveliness and fruit in the Church.
Holy Pontiff, be mindful of the faithful who implore your intercession at this period of the Year. Your eloquent lips announced the Pasch, so many years, to the people of Florence, and urged them to share in the Resurrection of our Divine Head. The same Pasch, the immortal Pasch, has shone once more upon us. We are still celebrating it. Oh pray that its fruits may be lasting in us, and that our Risen Jesus, who has given us Life, may, by His grace, preserve it in our souls for all eternity." Dom Prosper GuérangerSt. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop and Confessor, Doctor of the Church, A.D. 389.
by VP
Posted on Friday May 09, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was born in Cappadocia; and his parents gave him the strongest impressions of piety in his tender age. His chief study from his infancy, was to know God by the help of pious books. While he studied at Athens he formed a strict and holy friendship with the great St. Basil. They were to each other a mutual spur to all good; and by a holy emulation, neither of them would be outdone by the other in fasting, prayer, or the exercise of any virtue. Eminent for his great virtue and learning, St. Gregory was made bishop of Nazianzum; and afterwards called to the charge of the church of Constantinople. There, by his zealous labours having freed that people from Arianism, and other prevailing errors of that time, instead of meeting with peace to reward his charity, he found himself in the midst of many adversaries, such as discontent and envy had raised up against him. Wherefore, observing that upon his account the peace of the Eastern Church was disturbed, for the preventing greater mischiefs he returned to Nazianzum: and having committed the care of that flock to the hand of a faithful pastor, he ended his days in the retirement of a monastic life, in the year 389.
Pray for all the prelates and pastors of Christ's Church; that with the zeal of this holy man they may be watchful in all the concerns of their flock, for the encouragement of virtue and truth, and suppressing of whatever is contrary to the gospel. Pray for yourself, that being assisted by the divine grace, you may be faithful in your charge, whatever it be. And be not surprised, if, when wholly taken up with the obligations of your state, you meet with opposition. This is to be expected from the envy of some, or the weakness or indiscretion of others. The world is either so foolish, or wicked, as to give better quarter to those who do ill, than to the zealous and upright Christian: but he ought rather to rejoice than be discouraged. Learn in the midst of clamours to go on unconcerned, without engaging in contention; and never yield, but when required by a more public good." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel on Mt. Gargano, Italy
by VP
Posted on Thursday May 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Tradition
Saint Michael, Sacred Heart Dunn, NC
"The holy archangel Michael has ever been honoured in the Christian Church as her guardian under God, and as the protector of the faithful. For God is pleased to employ the zeal and charity of the good angels and their leader against the malice of the devil. To thank Almighty God for this benefit of his merciful providence, is this festival instituted by the Church in honour of the good angels: in which devotion she has been encouraged by several apparitions of this glorious archangel. Among others it is recorded that St. Michael, in a vision, admonished the bishop of Siponto to build a church in his honour on Mount Gargano, in the kingdom of Naples, which happened in the fifth century.
Many apparitions of good angels in favour of men, are recorded both in the Old and New Testaments. It is mentioned in particular of this special guardian and protector of the Church, that in the persecution of Antichrist he will powerfully stand up in her defense: At that time shall Michael rise up, who standeth for the children of thy people. He is not only the protector of the Church, but of every faithful soul. He defeated the devil by humility; we are enlisted in the same warfare. His arms were humility and an ardent love of God: the same must be our weapons.
Give thanks to God for that glory which the angels enjoy. Unite with them in adoring your Creator, and falling down before the Lamb who sits upon the throne. Acknowledge their praises to be justly due; rejoice that God is worthily praised by them; and lament the unworthy performance of that part which belongs to you. Give thanks for the fidelity of St. Michael and the other angels in resisting the dragon; and for the victory
which they gained. Pray for a like fidelity, as often as you shall be
assaulted by that powerful enemy; and beseech God that in all
temptations his holy angels may stand by you. If those pure spirits, who
had none to tempt them, fell from heaven, how ought man to fear, who is
encompassed with a body of sin, and has the world and hell against him? Help us therefore, O God, or we perish." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
"Guardian Angel of Holy Church! now is the time for thee to exert all the might of thine arm. Satan is furious in his efforts against the noble Spouse of thy Master; brandish thy bright sword, and give battle to this implacable enemy. The Kingdom of Christ is shaken to its very foundations. (...). Is it that the reign of the Man of Sin is about to be proclaimed on the earth? Are we near that Last Day, when this guilty world having been destroyed by fire, thou art to exercise, in the name of the Sovereign Judge, the terrible office of separating the goats from the sheep?—If this earth is still to exist; if the mission of the Church is not yet completed; is it not time for thee, O Michael! to show the Dragon of hell that he may not, with impunity, insult on this earth the God who created it, who redeemed it, and whose name is King of kings, and Lord of lord? The torrent of error and crime is unceasingly dragging the world to the brink of the precipice; save it, O glorious Archangel, by confounding the dark plots which are laid for its destruction!" Dom Gueranger
Prayer to the Holy Angels for Parishes :
All you legions and choirs of Angels,
please make haste to come to the aid and defense of our One Holy Roman
Catholic Church. Led by St. Michael, may She be protected from
destruction within by all modernistic attempts that try to diminish the
true presence of God and take away His proper and due respect! In
particular, come to the aid of my parish (name your parish) that it may
remain or be remade to be a place of reverence and a stronghold from
which the One True Triune God may continue to lead and strengthen us.
Amen.
#15 Acts of Adoration Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in reparation for all the offenses committed against Him by mankind [Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament]
by VP
Posted on Thursday May 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Thursday Reparation
15. We adore Thee, inexhaustible fund of treasures! And to make reparation for all the robberies committed in Thy churches, we offer up to Thee the rich and bountiful donations of Thy devout servants. Eternal praise and thanksgiving be to the Most Holy and Most Divine Sacrament.
O Queen of heaven and earth, hope of mankind, who adores thy Divine Son incessantly! We entreat thee, that, since we have the honor to be of the number of thy children, thou would interest thyself in our behalf and make satisfaction for us, and in our name, to our Eternal Judge, by rendering to Him the duties which we ourselves are incapable of performing. Amen
