St. Philomena
by VP
Posted on Sunday August 11, 2024 at 01:55AM in Saints
“I have never asked for anything through the intercession of my Little Saint without having been answered.” -- St. John Vianney
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have Mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have Mercy on us
God the Holy Ghost, Have Mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God, Have Mercy on us
Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins, Pray for us
St. Philomena, filled with most abundant graces from thy very birth, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Faithful imitator of Mary, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Model of virgins, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Temple of the most perfect humility, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Inflamed with zeal for the Glory of God, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Victim of the love of Jesus, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Example of strength and perseverance, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Invincible champion of chastity, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Mirror of the most heroic virtues, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Firm and intrepid in the face of torments, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Scourged like thy Divine Spouse, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Pierced by a shower or arrows, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Consoled by the Mother of God, when in chains, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Cured miraculously in prison, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Comforted by angels in thy torments, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Who preferred torments and death to the splendors of a throne, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Who converted the witnesses of thy martyrdom, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Who wore out the fury of thy executioners, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Protectress of the innocent, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Patron of youth, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Refuge of the unfortunate, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Health of the sick and the weak, Pray for us
St. Philomena, New light of the Church militant, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Who confounds the impiety of the world, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Whose name is glorified in Heaven and feared in hell, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Made illustrious by the most striking miracles, Pray for us
St. Philomena All powerful with God, Pray for us
St. Philomena, Who reigns in glory, Pray for us
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O great St. Philomena, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. We implore thee, O Lord, by the intercession of Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr,
who was ever most pleasing to Thy eyes by reason of her eminent purity and the practice of all virtues,
pardon us our sins and grant us all the graces we need. (Mention your intention)
Amen.
KINDLINESS ONE TO ANOTHER
by VP
Posted on Sunday August 11, 2024 at 01:00AM in Sermons
"He that showed mercy to him . . . and Jesus said to him: Go and do thou in like manner."-LUKE X. 37.
1. How many neglect to do "in like manner."
2. Love one another in thought, word, and deed.
3. Even in small things, how blessed by peace of conscience and piety.
4. But the greatest blessing is, by practicing kindliness, we grow like our Lord.
"THE touching parable of this day's Gospel contains many lessons, and amongst others, it is an instruction how we should fulfill that command of our Blessed Savior, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John xiii. 34). And the necessity for us to study this lesson is impressed on us by the fact that so many neglect this duty. This we see from the parable, for our Lord tells us how the priest and the Levite, representing good people and those who should have known their duty, passed by the wounded man; and it was left to a poor Samaritan - an outcast, as the Jews considered him - to give us an example of brotherly love. The very lawyer who had cross-questioned our Blessed Lord sought to evade the command by asking, "Who is my neighbor?" But he brought on himself the rebuke which forced from him the answer that will teach mankind until the end of time. Jesus said to him, "Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbor to him that fell amongst robbers?" He was compelled to answer, " He that showed mercy to him."
Love for our neighbor is a duty by the command of God. To love God is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. xxii. 39). And the practice of this duty is inculcated and explained in this parable. Anyone needing kindly assistance is our neighbor, and we are bound, according to our ability, to help him. Even by thought we can be charitable, and study how to comfort the afflicted and the dying. A pitying thought would lead us to pray, and with prayers we can follow even the dying, and rescue them from purgatory. By word, by comforting, consoling, advising those in trouble. By deed, by bestowing alms, taking trouble to assist them, by visiting the sick and the dying.
Alas! our neighborly love is often weak and attenuated for want of practice. We are so engrossed with ourselves, with our own comforts and well-being, that we forget others, and begrudge a little sacrifice for them. To some, perhaps, we are a little charitable: their misery appeals to us. Others we pass by: their poverty, disease, surroundings are repulsive to us. We cannot bring ourselves to the practice of kindly charity to them. We shudder at the remembrance of what so many saints and pious people have done-visiting the hospitals, seeking out the afflicted in their homes, and attending to them in their wretchedness.
But how many other ways are there of being charitable, that do not call for such heroism! Begin with humble little practices, but let them be daily ones. A daily practice soon becomes a habit, and little kindnesses will nourish our thoughtfulness, our generosity, and presently we shall find ourselves showing mercy and being blessed by it. The least thing done for Christ's sake is worthy of reward-even "a cup of cold water" given in His name. The rich man, who was buried in hell, cried out to Abraham for a drop of cold water to cool his tongue. He was past all mercy. But the souls in purgatory are longing for a little alleviation; and how many are totally forgotten by their friends, perhaps even by those to whom they had been so kind in life! Perhaps some fond mother suffering now for being too indulgent to us, and we heartlessly forget her. "Show mercy," by prayers, masses, and do not begrudge a Holy Communion offered for them. How blessed will be the reward of our charity, and how grateful we shall be for having practiced it, when our time comes to be judged and punished!
Amongst the rewards for kindliness to others, who can tell the peace of conscience and happiness that result from works of mercy, or even from words of consolation, with which we have comforted others? The hard-hearted, the selfish, the haughty cannot picture to themselves what they miss, and the comforting, holy joy of which they deprive their souls.
But the greatest blessing for being kindly one to another is this, that day by day we are growing more like our Blessed Lord, Who went about doing good to all. His spirit is filling our souls, and our hard and selfish hearts are being subdued and taking up the yoke of Christ. "Love one another as I have loved you." This is the motive that urges us to be kind and charitable; to grow like to Him should be our daily endeavor. Therefore a peace, that the world cannot understand, envelops our daily life, and by degrees this world and its love and its pleasures lose their fascination for us; and with joy we feel that it is heaven and the Lord of heaven to Whom we are seeking to attain.
Practicing kindliness, in little ways day after day, transforms our lives, and from being selfish and hard we grow prompt and generous, ready for some great occasion, which may arise, when we can prove ourselves imitators of our divine Master, and ready for His sake to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others.
"Go and do thou in like manner." This He bids us do. Unless we attempt it, force ourselves to do it, we are disobeying; we are cowards. Self is our master; our Blessed Lord is ignored. No wonder our prayers are unheard; our passions unsubdued; the practice of piety repugnant. Our religion is merely an outward show; the spirit of Christ is not in our hearts; we hear, but heed not, His words, "Love one another as I have loved you."
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Short Sermons on the Epistles & Gospels of the Sundays of the Year By Francis Paulinus Hickey
