CAPG's Blog 

"Saint Thomas was an apostle of Jesus Christ: pray for all the pastors of God's Church, who succeed in his holy functions. He propagated the gospel among the barbarous nations of the East: pray for all those people who are relapsed into idolatry, that God would be pleased to visit them. Pray for constancy for yourself.

St. Thomas was incredulous in the point of Christ's resurrection: pray for all unbelievers, who are obstinate in their errors; and for all who, through weakness or temptation, are disturbed with doubts in faith. He was a martyr: pray for constancy and patience for all that suffer for justice and truth: pray for all those who are visited with any affliction, whether temporal or spiritual.

Strive therefore daily to be constant in all your duties: accustom yourself to force your way upon meeting with opposition. Let no fear or shame prevail on you, to the omission of any duty have no regard to what the world will say of you. Look on difficulties, troubles, temptations, and disquiets, as part of your portion, and an exercise of this life, to which God has called you. Be not therefore afraid to suffer and then if God shall call you to greater trials, you may hope to say still with this apostle: Let us go, and die with our suffering Lord." The Catholic Year; by Fr. John Gother

The Incredulity of St. Thomas by Guercino

"KEEP this day of penance in such a manner as may be acceptable to God, in humiliation and self-denial. If you practice some penitential works, and yet find ways to court your appetite, commit excesses, and indulge yourself in all your usual liberties, will this be a good preparation for the blessings of heaven? Endeavour in this point to reform yourself and others.

Self-denial is absolutely necessary for a Christian life. This necessity arises from the corruption of our nature, which spreading itself through all the faculties of our soul and body, inclines them all, with a sort of violence, to evil; so that if they have the liberty of following their own inclination, they will all run into sin, and seek satisfaction in it. This corruption then obliges us to self-denial; because the will and law of God are holy and we cannot walk according to these, unless we check and suppress in us all those inclinations, which would carry us out of the way of this holiness, and lead us to evil. If we follow that which is just and good, we must of necessity stand against and resist that which binds us to sin.

This is declared by Christ Himself, who thus says to His disciples: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me". Here self-denial is expressly declared a necessary condition for becoming a disciple of Christ. This is to be practiced by keeping a strict watch upon all the faculties of the soul, and senses of the body; and bringing them into subjection to the will of God, as often as any motions or inclinations are perceived in them, contrary to the divine will. Hence a guard is to be set upon the inward and outward man: all is to be kept under government. The understanding, the will, the memory, the heart, the affections, the desires, the whole list of passions, the eyes, the ears, the tongue, the taste, the hands and feet, and the rest. No liberty is to be allowed to any of them, but in accordance with the divine will. Thus is a Christian to practice what he professes, that is, to be a follower of Christ." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"In the persecution of Decius, Nemesion, an Egyptian, was apprehended at Alexandria, and accused of theft, by certain enemies of his faith, whose malice suggested this way of destroying both his life and reputation. The servant of Christ easily cleared himself of that false charge; but his faith in Christ was then made his crime, and he was accused of being a Christian. Hereupon he was sent to the prefect of Egypt, and confessing his faith at his tribunal, he was ordered to be scourged, and tormented even more grievously than the thieves. After this he was condemned to be burnt with the most criminal among the robbers and other malefactors; whereby he had the honour and happiness more perfectly to imitate the death of our divine Redeemer.

False accusations are a severe trial: therefore, let not your charity be wanting in praying for those who are under it. And for yourself, consider this matter seriously. Reproach, ignominy, and disgrace, were some of those evils, to which Christ Himself submitted; and being sanctified in His sacred person, may be to you a sanctification, if you receive them in the spirit of Jesus Christ, that is, with His patience, charity, and meekness. It is allowable, in such cases, to justify yourself with moderation and peace: but if your plea be not received, then is the time to join yourself to Christ, and imitate His humility and silence in submitting to the scourge which God is pleased to lay upon you. It may be just from His hand, though not from those who appear against you. Let this be your rule, and permit not every ordinary provocation of this kind to fill your mind with resentment and passion. This is a sure mark of pride, a certain proof that you have not yet learnt the maxims of the Cross, and are far from the humility of your Saviour, who delivered Himself up to him who judged him unjustly. It is unworthy of your Christian profession, and will be the loss of that advantage which God puts into your hands, when He sends you these trials. Pray then for the grace to bear them with humility and patience, prepare for their approach, and practise these virtues when the trial comes." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Our Lady of the Expectation, multi-coloured wood statue, 16th century. Museum of Santa Cruz, Toledo, Spain.

"By the great mystery of the Incarnation, the Blessed Virgin Mary contracted the most intimate union with the eternal Son of God, whom she was privileged to conceive and bear in her womb. She was ever humble, and remained respectfully silent, without any boasting of the great things which God had accomplished within her. But what tongue can express the inward feelings and affections which filled the glowing heart of the most pure Mother of God? What light shone in her understanding, to penetrate the mysteries and the unfathomed goodness of God? What ardours of holy love inflamed her will? These affections increased in her soul, as the time drew nigh when she should give birth to the world's Redeemer. And this festival is appointed by the Church, to encourage us to contemplate the sentiments of the Blessed Virgin at this time; so that by endeavouring to acquire some share of her dispositions, we may be well prepared for the approaching festival of our Lord's Nativity.

"This saint lived at Constantinople in the time of St. John Chrysostom. Her husband having been dead some time, the Emperor Theodosius proposed to her to marry Elpidius, his own near relation: to whom she answered, that God having taken away her husband, because she was not fit for the duties of the married state, she was resolved no more to engage in it. She was true to her resolution; and employed both her money and time in the relief of widows, orphans, and the sick. Her austerities were great, her habit mean, her humility edifying, her tears continual: and that nothing might be wanting to consummate her virtue, she was persecuted by the Emperor Arcadius, for espousing the cause of oppressed innocence in the person of her pastor, St. John Chrysostom. For this, being forced into banishment, she found her way by a happy death, to a better country which she had long desired.

Make use of this example as your state requires. There are difficulties in all conditions, and that of marriage cannot properly be Christian, without the self-denials of the cloister. If humility and charity helped her to heaven, will not prodigality and vanity shut you out from it? Take not your measures from the world, but from the gospel; and then say who has given you power so much to dispense with it. Follow the gospel, if you hope to come to the promises of the gospel. The saints all studied to husband every moment to the best advantage, knowing that life is very short, and that the night is coming on apace when no man can work. Let no moments be spent merely to pass away time. Diversions and corporal exercise ought to be used with moderation, only as much as may seem requisite for bodily health and the vigour of the mind. Every one is bound to apply himself to some serious employment. This, and his necessary recreations, must be referred to God, sanctified by a holy intention, and seasoned by humility, patience, prayer, and other virtues. Thus will our lives be an uninterrupted sacrifice of divine praise and love." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Sebastiano Ricci: Virgin Mary in Glory with Archangel Gabriel and S. Eusebius, S. Sebastian und S. Rochus

"He was a bishop: pray for all the bishops in God's Church. Who knows, but if the faithful constantly joined in presenting their most earnest petitions to Almighty God, as often as the festivals of holy prelates return throughout the year, He might bless the Church with a succession of holy pastors, who by word and example might be as so many lights to the faithful, to conduct them to a happy eternity?

St. Eusebius was bishop of Vercelli, and a powerful opponent of the Arian heresy, which at that time desolated the Church, under the protection of the Emperor Constantius By this emperor, he was sent into banishment for defending the Nicene Creed, and refusing to subscribe to the condemnation of St. Athanasius. The holy man suffered much in his exile from hunger, thirst, scourging, and various kinds of cruel treatment; but he had learned to undervalue his own life for the cause of Christ, and he cheerfully abandoned his body to his persecutors. Neither torments, nor enticements, could ever move him to consent to the enemies of his faith.

On the death of Constantius, he was permitted to return to his see, and came to Alexandria to concert measures with St. Athanasius for applying proper remedies to the evils of the Church. He afterwards travelled over the East, and through Illyricum, confirming in the faith those that were wavering, and bringing back many that were gone astray. St. Jerome places his death in 371; and he is styled a martyr, and honoured as such in the offices of the Church.

Pray for patience in all sufferings for yourself, and others who are under any trials. If you honour a martyr, suffer something this day with more than ordinary meekness. Consider how often you are in a passion, how easily you are disquieted, how inconsiderable a thing provokes you, how ordinary temptations overcome you. Are these the steps of a martyr? Is this according to the Gospel? Blush then, and be confounded at your weakness: pray for new strength, and beseech this holy martyr to pray for you." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

• "Woe to us who have been born in this wretched age, an age - I say it weeping - in which anyone who has any zeal whatever for the glory of God, and casts his eyes on the men and women who now live, will be moved to tears to see everything turned upside down, the beautiful order of virtue overthrown, the bright light of life quenched, and scarce anything left in the Church but open iniquity and feigned sanctity. The light of good example is extinguished in those who ought to shine as luminaries to the whole world, like watch-towers and beacons on the mountains. No light, alas! comes from them, but horrid darkness, and pestilent mischief, by which innumerable souls are falling into destruction." -- St. John Fisher; Bishop of Rochester, Cardinal, Tower of London, 1535

• Prayer for Holy Bishops (Saint John Fisher): Lord, according to Your promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost. So, Good Lord, do now in like manner again with Thy Church Militant; change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones; set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars, that may suffer and endure great labors, watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat; which also shall not hear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy Holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout all the world. Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church. Saint John Fisher (Sermon in 1508) from Saint John Fisher Forum

TEMPTATIONS.-There are temptations which every one may avoid, and this is a positive duty; for "he who loves the danger shall perish therein," says the Holy Gospel. Some there are which no man can fly from, inasmuch as he bears them about him; neither the desert, nor the cloister, nor the solitary retreat shuts them out; fasting, prayer, and confidence in God are the only safeguards. St. Paul, the first hermit, St. Anthony, and St. Jerome, are cases in point. St. Paul, an anchorite of Bithynia, experienced temptations while on the arid rocks of Mount Latre, whither he had betaken himself. Although living merely on raw herbs, bitter acorns, and the water flowing near his grot, he had terrible conflicts to endure; but at length the spirit, or rather the power of grace, triumphed over the flesh. The outer world became aware of his virtues and admired him; he founded several retreats, or monasteries, for anchorites. Emperors, princes, pontiffs, and prelates sought the aid of his counsel and profited thereby, for holiness is a good counsellor. He died in 956.

MORAL REFLECTION.—“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it." -(1 Cor. x. 13.)

Artemisia Gentileschi  (1596–1654)

"She was a holy virgin. Pray for all who live in the profession of that state. She obtained leave of her mother to sell what was settled for her portion, and gave it to the poor. Pray for all that are under the temptations of their youthful age; when vanity, self-love, curiosity, prodigality, levity, and the immoderate desire of being admired and esteemed, press with greatest violence upon them, and the solicitude of pleasing themselves diminishes the compassion due to their neighbours. Pray for remedy against all the indiscretions and follies of that unsettled age; that they may ever remember that they are but dust and clay; that they are made for another world, and not for this; that a little given to the poor, is much more to the purpose than all they lay out upon themselves; while all this expense is only to court the world, which ought to be forsaken, and the other is to purchase everlasting rest.

St. Damasus

"He served in the Church of St. Laurence at Rome, and always lived in a perfect state of continence. On the death of Pope Liberius in 366, St. Damasus was chosen bishop of Rome. When St. Jerome went to Rome, the holy pope detained him near his person, till his own death, three years after, employing him as his secretary, and to answer consultations. St Jerome calls him an excellent man, an incomparable person, learned in the Scriptures, a virgin doctor of the virgin Church, who loved chastity, and heard its praises with pleasure. Theodoret says, that he was illustrious by his holy life, and ready to preach, and to do all things in defence of the apostolic doctrine. The ancients particularly commend his constancy in maintaining the purity of our holy faith, the innocence of his manners, his Christian humility, his compassion for the poor, his piety in adorning holy places, especially the tombs of the martyrs, and his singular learning. Having sat eighteen years and two months, he died on the 10th of December, in 384, being near fourscore years of age.

Pope Melchiades

"He was bishop of Rome in the time of Maximian: he suffered great persecution from him, and though he outlived the emperor, and died when peace was restored to the Church, yet he is numbered among the martyrs. Pray for all under any sort of persecution, that God would give them the spirit of patience, constancy, and meekness." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother