Saint Paul of the Cross
by VP
Posted on Monday April 28, 2025 at 01:00AM in Saints
Statue of Saint Paul of the Cross, at the Vatican Basilica of S. Peter. By Ignazio Iacometti, 1876
"On the feast of the Holy Trinity, both said their first masses. Cold must be the heart, indeed, which is not moved with emotion at the first mass. It is that dread moment, when a man offers up in his own hands the Son of God to the Father for the first time. He sees his life, his hope, his all, in his hands, and that he has power to call Him, and that His honour whilst there is committed to his keeping. The smallest faith must realise these sensations to the newly ordained priest. What must be the measure of lively faith in that soul which had lived almost upon faith up to that very moment? A soul which seemed to touch and feel the very truths of our holy religion, so clearly did he apprehend them and so long could he remain absorbed in their mere contemplation. Paul said his first mass, of course, with that extra measure of delight which his perfection would lead us to anticipate. He is said to have received some special graces which made him ever look back to that event with, "Oh, what a sight!"
Custom or habit never brought F. Paul less fervour in celebrating mass. To the end of his life he had the gift of tears, and his humility made him continually repeat mentally to himself, as he approached the altar, "The hour cometh, and now is, when the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of a sinner." Often at the mysterious parts of the sacrifice was his face seen to glow with heavenly beauty. Often was he raised aloft in the air whilst contemplating his Incarnate God as he lay upon the corporal, and often again was he enveloped in a strange but lucid cloud. Such was the scene once witnessed and attested in the processes by an opulent and charitable man, named Dominico Costantini, who was serving the Saint's mass in the church of Sta. Lucia, in Corneto.
F. Paul was very particular with regard to the rubrics and ceremonies of the mass, and nothing offended him so much as to see the furniture of the altar either torn or stained. He considered it an offence in the whole congregation if their houses, and especially the pastor's, were like palaces, whilst the house of God was suffered to remain like a stable." (...)
"In the year 1733, they gave their first mission in Orbetello-this was what we should call the post-town of the place, and thus are we told of its fruits. This mission began in February. The attendance was very great; for besides the inhabitants of the town there was a new garrison quartered there, and the soldiers and officers with their wives swelled the audience. The influence of soldiers upon a country town is proverbial. They bring dissipation, amours, and open, or at least badly disguised immorality with them. In Orbetello this barefaced lewdness had gone so far that ladies made it a point to appear in church, in attire much more scanty than our fashionable full-dress. The Saint inveighed so strongly against this profanation that shoulders were moderately covered next night; he went a little further in his invectives, and the female portion of the audience were at length pretty modestly dressed. There was one Frenchwoman there who resented very much these restrictions upon the exhibition of female vanity, and determined to show her disapprobation of the whole business, at the same time resolving to defy the Saint and assert the right her sex lay claim to; namely, that of doing what they please, provided it be in the fashion. She planted herself just under the missionary's eyes, if possible, even more fully dressed than any of her companions had been. The Saint said not a word. He gave one severe reproving look at her, and in a moment her face, hands, arms, and shoulders, became as black as charcoal. All were horrified. She took out a handkerchief and tried to hide her deformity, but could not succeed-grace did its work, and at the conclusion of the sermon she was as demonstrative in the signs of her repentance as she had been at its beginning in those of her vanity and impudence. By the prayers of the Saint she recovered her former colour in a few days; but such was the effect of the incident, that about forty of the most respectable ladies in the town dressed henceforward almost in the garb of as many nuns."
"The Saint was so intent on God that he said one time,-"If anybody should ask me at any moment of the day, what are you thinking about? I think I should answer, of God." Everything reminded him of God, and set him a thinking on the divine perfections. He would be seen sometimes during his walks beating the flowers playfully with his stick, saying,— “Be silent, be silent." When somebody asked him why, he said it was because they were always preaching to him and speaking of God. It was remarked once that he went to say the Rosary in the woods, and after being there ever so long, absorbed in God, he had not got further than "Pater Noster" of the first decade. His faith was shown in everything which betokened its presence. The feasts of the Church, her rites and ceremonies, were observed by him with peculiar devotion and exactitude.
He reverenced priests from
the same principle of faith. Time, and his experience of all the
shortcomings and want of spirit which he was sure to discover, did not
lessen this respect. To the very end of his life he would rise before a
priest, if able. This is the more to be wondered at, as he was the
superior of priests so long himself, and had to administer correction to
them, as if they were pupils. No one could give him a greater offence
than by speaking ill of any priest, no matter how unworthy his life
might be. The hardest thing he was ever heard to say on this point, when
speaking of the great perfection to which priests might attain if they
would, was :— "Ah! how little faith is there in the world; if they
did but know how heavenly is their dignity, they would respect it more."
His devotion and attachment to the Church was equally wonderful. He could not endure the slightest word which, even by insinuation, threw a reflection on her practice. He would say in a stern tone to the author of any such remark, with S. Cyprian,—“ He who hath not the Church for a mother, cannot have God for a father. Would you treat your mother in that way?" When he heard of the evil machinations, which were then rife in Italy against the Church, he was inconsolable. Every book, pamphlet, or publication which touched the Church in any way he would burn if he could, and wished he could come across their authors, in order to reprove them publicly. On the other hand, those who wrote, or spoke, or acted on the side of the Church he could not honour or praise sufficiently. It was remarked that he was always very fond of the students of the Propaganda. He used to envy them their high and noble calling.
The Saint was very devout to the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. He bowed his head always at the gloria patri, and severely reproved any of the religious who failed to do the same according to the regulations; and it was remarked that his most frequent ejaculation was Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! He said that came from heaven, and its sound brought him there in spirit. His devotion was remarkable also towards the Infant Jesus, because he then contemplated the mystery of the Incarnation. He used especially to love to see an image of the Infant wrapped up in a few rags, on Christmas night, because, he said, "Oh, is it not humiliating to see Omnipotence like that; and nothingness like this, moving about in conscious strength ?"
His devotion found full expression in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. There he could spend days and nights motionless in prayer. Until he had the Blessed Sacrament in a newly opened house he did not seem to be at all happy. Whenever he came near a town, as soon as he saw the church, he knelt down to adore the Blessed Sacrament kept there, and when he entered he went off straight to the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, as if by instinct. The fruit of his missions used to be seen principally in the crowds of labourers who turned into the church every evening to visit the Blessed Sacrament as they came home from their work. He introduced this beautiful custom wherever he went.
Only his devotion to the Passion, which was the all-absorbing one of his life, could equal the devotion he had to our Blessed Lady. He began everything with her blessing. Nearly all his greatest favours were received on her feasts, and he was blessed with many surprising visions of her glory. He said one day to the students (the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was not then defined),-" This doctrine (Immaculate Conception) has not been declared an article of faith by holy Church, but I would give my blood and sacrifice my life in torments in defence of it; and if by doing this I did not become a martyr, I am sure I should give great glory to this august Lady. Oh! happy me, if this might take place." In all his great troubles he used to say,-" These are times when the Blessed Virgin comes in to help." He never pronounced the name of Mary without bowing his head, or taking off his cap, after he began to wear one. Of course, the mystery of her life, which had the greatest attraction for him, was her sufferings at the foot of the cross."The Life of S. Paul of the Cross: Founder of the Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord, Usually Called Passionists 1867
Steadfastness
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 27, 2025 at 01:00AM in Sunday Sermons
The Disbelief of Saint Thomas (Incredulité de Saint Thomas) - James Tissot
"Jesus saith to him: because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed."-St. John xx. 29.
"When Our Lord appeared to the disciples and gave them the commission to forgive sins, and thus instituted the holy Sacrament of Penance, St. Thomas was not present; and when the other disciples told him what had happened, and that He had shown them the wounds in His hands and in His feet, he refused to believe them; he declared he would not believe unless he himself should see them also. He said: "Unless I shall see the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
This disposition of St. Thomas was very wrong. He ought to have believed without hesitation. He had seen our Lord work miracles without number; he had seen Him give sight to the blind, even those blind from birth; make the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak; he had seen Him raise the dead to life, raise Lazarus after being dead and buried already four days. He knew that our Lord had predicted His resurrection. He ought to have believed, and he sinned in not believing. He was obstinate in unbelief, refusing to credit the testimony of his companions, whom he knew to be honest and trustworthy.
Our Lord in the kindness of His heart forgave him, and made him put his finger into the print of the nails and into the wound in His side to convince him, and also to convince us by His testimony of the reality of His resurrection. But at the same time He rebuked him, and taught us all a grand lesson. He said: "Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed; blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We have the faith on the testimony of the apostles and disciples who recorded it in the Gospels, and who sealed their testimony in their own blood.
We have the testimony of all the disciples who repeatedly saw our Lord after His resurrection, sometimes a great number of them, over five hundred at once.
We have the testimony of the Catholic Church; of all those millions on millions who have lived from that day to this; of the wonderful providence of God and His care of His Church until now.
This ought to be enough. This ought to be enough to make us say our act of faith, "O my God, I believe whatever Thy Holy Church proposes to my belief, because Thou hast revealed it to her. Thou who canst neither deceive nor be deceived."
This is the age of unbelief. Very great numbers of men are occupied in trying to undermine the faith. The newspapers are full of infidel objections. The press is teeming with works written expressly to destroy the faith. The flimsiest reasons are brought forward with a bold face as if they were unanswerable. The very fact that the things of God and religion are so high and incomprehensible is brought forward as the principal reason why they are not to be believed.
We have believed once for all, on the truest and most solid evidence. Our business now is to "live by faith." To put in practice the precepts of our faith, and to follow the example of the Author and Finisher of our faith, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are not of those who are to be "beat about by every wind of doctrine.” We are not to be moved by the vain babblings of men, who are wise in their own conceit and think they know everything, though they know very little after all. We will not imitate St. Thomas in his unbelief, and refuse to believe the wonderful things of God because they are so high and wonderful, but imitate him when in wonder and admiration he cried, "My Lord and my God." Believing in the testimony of God and His Church, and putting away all sceptical and imaginative doubts, we shall receive the blessing pronounced by our Lord: "Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." (Low Sunday - Five minute Sermons by the Paulist Fathers)
St. Zita
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 27, 2025 at 01:00AM in Saints
S.Zita (Michelangelo Pittatore)
THE GREATNESS OF HUMILITY.-St. Zita, placed by reason of her lowly birth in a position obscure, or vile even, according to the views of the world, knew how to lift herself by faith to the sublime heights of sanctity. She passed her life in domestic work, the object of hatred and calumny: her humility was too great, it was said, to be real; it was sheer hypocrisy. Her submission was too prompt and perfect to be exempt from pride; and if the poor servant were any better than people of her condition, it was merely because she wished to appear so. Zita, however, accomplished all her duties with that perfection which those who wish to please God are wont to employ. She bore reproofs, injuries, bodily and moral sufferings, with that patience and submission which the love of God alone knows how to inspire. She was pious, cherished the poor, and forgave injuries. At last the general voice ended by rendering her full justice, which she by no means looked for. The world was struck with wonderment, and the Church has placed her on her altars. St. Zita died at Lucca in 1272, and was beatified in 1696.
MORAL REFLECTION.-All acts in themselves good become acts of holiness when accomplished with reference to God. "All things are turned into good in the hands of those that love God," saith the Apostle.-(Rom. viii. 28.). Pictorial half hours with the saints. By Abbe Auguste François Lecanu
Saturday in Easter Week
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 26, 2025 at 01:00AM in Meditations
"Christ, rising from the dead, is our instruction at this time, that whoever pretends to be His disciple, ought not to lie buried in the grave of sin, but rise with His Lord to a life of grace, obeying the summons of St. Paul: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall enlighten thee". No one can be a true disciple of Christ, who believes not what He teaches; neither can any one seriously judge himself His disciple, if he does not what Christ commands. He commands you now, O Christian, to awake and arise from sin. If you do it not, how do you belong to Him? For this end, the Church now calls upon you by confession and sincere repentance to purify your soul from whatever can defile, and present it a pure offering before God, if not without spot nothing that can render It may be easily known or blemish, at least so that there be you unfit to accompany your Lord. How near you are come to be this happy soul, if you consider yourself by St. Paul's measures: "If you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth". Not that a Christian is entirely to banish from his heart the thoughts of all worldly things. This cannot be in this life, where our duty in several ways links us to this world; but that our hearts be so possessed with the love of God, that using this world only as far as necessity requires, our great concern and solicitude in the main body of our actions may be how to perform the Will of God, and work out our salvation.
This is the method, and
these are the marks of a soul risen with Christ: and where these are
not, it is to be feared that the soul goes not beyond the ceremony of a
resurrection and repentance. Deceive not then yourself any more,
Christian soul; for you cannot deceive Him, who is the searcher of
hearts. If at this time you have thoughts of repenting, see that your
repentance be accompanied with a change of yourself, and with amendment
for otherwise, though Christ be risen, yet you can expect no part in the
resurrection of the just." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
SS. Cletus and Marcellinus, Popes and Martyrs, A.D. 89 and 304
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 26, 2025 at 01:00AM in Saints
"Saint Cletus was the third bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which shews his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter. He suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Domitian. St. Marcellinus succeeded St. Caius in the bishopric of Rome in the year 296. He acquired great glory in those stormy times of persecution, and is always styled a martyr, though he did not actually shed his blood in the cause of religion,
St. Mark, Evangelist
by VP
Posted on Friday April 25, 2025 at 08:35AM in Saints
St. Mark the Evangelist by Valentin de Boulogne
St. Mark, Evangelist
"He was a disciple of St. Peter, and one of the Evangelists. Pray that the Gospel may be the rule of your life; and while you profess a faith of what it teaches, see that your practice be not a confutation of your profession. Pray for all those who read the Gospel, that they may not wrest it to their own perdition, through presumption and rashness; but being assisted by the same spirit, by which it was written, may be led into all truth.
St. Mark went into Egypt, and was the first who preached the Christian faith at Alexandria, where by his labours the Church was established, and by his example the faithful were trained up in that exact discipline conformable to the rules of the Gospel, that they were a pattern to all believers, and admired even by the enemies of their faith. And after having suffered great persecution, he was called to the reward of his labours, in the fourteenth year of the Emperor Nero. Pray for all who embrace the true faith; and for all the professors of it; that they may live up to the maxims of the Gospel, and give no occasion to unbelievers to blaspheme the name of Christ. There is nothing so scandalous, as a wicked life, joined with the true faith: it carries everywhere contagion with it, infecting both friends and enemies. There is nothing so provoking to Almighty God, as it involves a contempt of His greatest mercies, and therefore draws down His heaviest judgments. Pray for the reformation of all believers, that infidelity may not be the punishment of abused Christianity. (...)." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Easter Friday
by VP
Posted on Friday April 25, 2025 at 01:00AM in Meditations
Women at the Sepulchre, Harold Copping
"The example of the holy women, who went to visit the sepulchre of our Lord, furnishes us with some excellent instructions for this time. They make a provision of perfumes: they rise early to carry them to the sepulchre; they think not of the inconvenience of going alone, and having none in their company capable of rolling the stone away for them. This difficulty occurs to them upon the way; yet they are not discouraged, but pursue their journey with a hope in Providence. Thus they go on, following the impetuous notions of a sincere heart, without regard to any of those precautions which human prudence might have suggested. And what is their success? They find the stone removed from the mouth of the sepulchre, they are assured of Christ's being risen from the dead, by two angels who appeared to them; and are ordered to give notice of it to the apostles. Thus have they the first news of the Resurrection; and by commission from heaven are made apostles of it to the apostles themselves.
Now, if we consider this disposition of their minds, it is plain that they had not a lively faith of Christ's Resurrection, nor in those words by which He foretold it, because they thought Him dead; but it being the trouble at Christ's death which made them incapable of reflecting or thinking of anything else, and they following the dictates of a sincere love, in resolving to express the honour which they had for Him in the best manner they could, Christ distinguishes between the effects of human weakness in them, and the sincerity of their love, in bearing with the one, and rewarding the other.
A like good effect will
those Christians find, who with a like sincerity seek their Lord. If
they are sensible of their wants, and with true desires of amendment,
vigorously undertake whatever appears to them pleasing to their God,
such a disposition cannot fail of meeting with blessings from His hand,
who cannot withstand the endeavours of a fervent and single heart, but
will show them mercy, in bearing with their infirmities, in removing
their difficulties, in perfecting their faith, and in giving light to
their darkness." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringa, Martyr, A.D. 1622.
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2025 at 01:00AM in Saints
For some time he practiced the law as a counselor at Colmar, with great reputation, but still greater virtue. He abstained from all invective, detraction, and whatever might affect the reputation of any adversary. He conceived a disgust, however, for a profession, which was to many an occasion of sin; and determined to enter among the Capuchin friars. He first received holy orders, and having said his first mass in their convent at Fribourg, he consecrated himself to God by taking the habit. From that moment, humiliations, mortification, and implicit obedience were his delight. In regard to dress and furniture, he always chose that for his own use, which was the least valuable and convenient. His life was a continued prayer and recollection; and at his devotions he seemed rather like an angel than a man.
When he had finished his course of divinity, St. Fidelis was employed in preaching and hearing confessions. He reformed many by his zealous labors, and converted several Calvinists. When a pestilential fever infected the Austrian army, he exercised wonderful charity in assisting the sick and dying. He also exerted himself indefatigably in composing differences between neighbors, and relieving those who were in distress. He was most devout to the Blessed Virgin, and regularly recited the holy rosary. By her prayers and those of other saints, he begged that he might shed his blood in the defense of the Catholic faith. His prayer was granted. For the Calvinists were so incensed against him, for his pious labors to convert them, that they murdered him in the year 1622, the forty-fifth of his age.
Pray for all who are engaged in the holy ministry, and laboring for the conversion of souls. To contribute to the conversion of a sinner, is something more excellent than to raise the dead to life. The soul, which from the death of sin is raised to the life of grace, passes from slavery to the devil, to the dignity and privileges of a child of God. By this divine adoption, she is rescued out of the abyss of infinite misery, and exalted to the most sublime state of glory and happiness, in which all the treasures of grace and of heaven are her portion for ever." The Catholic Year by Fr. John GotherEaster Thursday
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2025 at 01:00AM in Meditations
The three women on the tomb of Christ, by Irma Martin, 1843
"As the angel said to the holy women, who were looking for Christ among the dead: He is risen, He is not here; so the state of every Christian at this time ought to be such, that as to all wilful and affected sin, it may with truth be said of him: "He is risen, he is not here". The past time ought to suffice for sin: and now as to what remains, all ought to live to the will of God. This is what St. Paul says to the Corinthians: "You have been sinners, but now you are washed, now you are sanctified, now you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have been darkness; but now you are light in our Lord: walk therefore as children of the light." This is the fruit of Christ's Passion, which ought to be found in every Christian. This it is which the present solemnity of the Resurrection demands of every one in particular; and wherever this is not, those who have it not are not the children of God, nor have they any part in Christ. And the Resurrection of our Lord, which is a day of joy to repenting sinners, what must it be to such as obstinately or carelessly abide in sin, but a day of reproach and confusion, even a beginning of that confusion, which, if not timely prevented, will be eternal?
For where the mercies of a Redeemer do not raise up from the grave of sin, what can be expected, but to lie buried in sin for ever?
Wherefore, it being a
common interest to escape this confusion, it is plain that it can be no
other way effected, than by rising with Christ from sin, and beginning
the life of the new man. And because the weight of our corruption is a
general hindrance to this work, and the occasion of its being
unfinished, though often begun; it is our present duty to consider of
the means proper for carrying it on. And since this was the time of our
Saviour's beginning a new life, beg of Him to give a new life to all who
believe in Him, that they may begin such a method, as may give them
well-grounded hopes of rising with Him to a life immortal." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
St. George, Martyr, Patron of England, A.D. about 303.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday April 23, 2025 at 01:00AM in Saints
St. George was a martyr. Pray for all those who suffer for their faith, that they may be strengthened from above. Pray for all others under whatever kind of trouble, that God would give them patience, and be their comfort.
Authentic history
furnishes us with very few particulars relating to this martyr, besides
his being a soldier in Cappadocia, and being put to death under
Dioclesian for the Christian faith. But the extraordinary devotion of all Christendom to this saint, is an authentic proof how glorious his triumph and name have always been in the Church. According to the best accounts, he was born in Cappadocia, of noble Christian parents. After the death of his father, he went with his mother into Palestine. Having embraced the profession of a soldier, he was made a tribune, or colonel in the army. For his courage and conduct, he was soon preferred to higher stations by the Emperor Dioclesian. When that Prince waged war against the Christian religion, St. George laid aside the marks of his dignity, threw up his commission and posts of honor, and complained to the emperor himself of his severe and cruel edicts. He was immediately cast into prison, and tried, first by promises, and afterwards by the rack, and tortured with great cruelty; but nothing could shake his constancy. The next day he was led through the city and beheaded. St. George is usually painted on horseback,
and tilting at a dragon under his feet; but this representation is no
more than an emblematical figure, purporting that by his faith and
Christian fortitude he conquered the Devil, who is called the dragon in the Apocalypse. The general opinion of his
courage in his military profession, and great constancy in his
suffering for justice and truth, has been a motive to our forefathers to
choose St. George for the patron of this nation. They hoped by his charity to obtain of God
a plentiful benediction in all public affairs, and success to their
arms. The same considerations may be motives to us this day to enquire into
ourselves, and see how much we want his charitable assistance, in order
to obtain those so necessary qualifications, which rendered him so
eminent to the Christian world, his courage
and constancy. Without these, we can neither do what we are commanded,
nor suffer what Providence has ordained for us. One that was a soldier
is a proper patron for Christians. For, whatever their sex or condition be, they are soldiers of Christ, their whole life is a warfare upon earth, they have many battles to fight, they are to meet very powerful enemies in the field; and without great courage and perseverance, they can never hope for victory.
Courage is necessary in the discharge of our common duties; because of the great opposition we meet with, from the general corruption of those with whom we live and converse. Custom and practice have given such authority to sinful liberty and neglect, that a compliance seems expected from all: and those who refuse to go along with the stream, must look to be charged with pride, singularity, and bigotry. Now while this seems to concern our reputation, those who have not courage to bear the stroke, surrender and yield; and by joining in what they disapprove, show that it is fear that carries them on; and that they would be virtuous, if they were but bold enough to be so. This fear puts numbers upon complying with all the extravagances of fashion and the age: and though sensible how disagreeable, and even opposite many of these are to the spirit of the gospel, yet awed by what the world will say, they choose to follow what they condemn, and become children of the world, because they dare not be the disciples of Christ.
