St. Servulus, CONFESSOR, A.D. 590.
by VP
Posted on Monday December 23, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was a poor man in Rome, who from his infancy was afflicted with the palsy, and was never able to stand, sit upright, lift his hand to his mouth, or turn himself from one side to another. His mother and brother carried him every day to the porch of St. Clement's church at Rome, where he subsisted by the charitable alms of those that passed by. The charity of this beggar was very remarkable, in his distributing every day to other poor persons, whatever he received above what satisfied the necessities of the day. He only saved so much as served to purchase a copy of the Holy Scriptures; in which, though ignorant of other things, he was well instructed, by requesting such as came to visit him to read to him. The sufferings and humiliation of his condition were a means, of which he made an excellent use for the sanctification of his own soul, by the constant exercise of humility, patience, meekness, resignation, and penance. He consecrated his time by assiduously singing humns of praise and thanksgiving to God; and his continual pains were so far from dejecting or distracting him, that they proved a most pressing motive for raising his mind to God with greater ardour
Having lived many years in this method, and in the practice of cheerful patience, St. Servulus perceived his end to draw near. In his last moments, he desired the poor and pilgrims, who had often shared his charity, to sing sacred hymns and psalms by him. Whilst he joined his voice with theirs, he on a sudden eried out: "Silence! Do you not hear the sweet melody and praises which resound in the heavens ?" Soon after he had spoken these words, he expired; and God attested his sanctity by filling the room with a sweet odour, which continued till he was buried.
Learn the great advantage that may be made of sickness, pain, and poverty. By the good use of these,
this saint made his way to heaven: and will not he rise in judgment
against you for your impatience in lesser trials, and the ill use of your
time, health and money? See how much with your plenty and health, you
are behind him who had neither; and hasten to atone for your past ill
management." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
O Emmanuel. (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Monday December 23, 2024 at 12:00AM in Advent Sermons
“O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the expectation of the nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God!”
1.
Emmanuel, God with us, is a name that in every way belongs to Christ
Our Lord. He is with His people in all their needs, ever ready to help
and console them. He is with us on every altar, waiting for us to come
and pour out before Him our sorrow and our needs. He is with us, above
all, in Holy Communion, when He comes to dwell in our heart and to bring
with Him every grace that we need. He is with us in the hour of death,
and He will be with us forever in heaven.
2. He Who thus comes
to dwell with us in familiar friendship is our King ; He Who thus
condescends to be our companion is the God Who has an absolute right to
our obedience. He is our Lawgiver, and the statutes that He enacts for
us have but one end and aim and object, to lead His subjects into the
ways of happiness and the paths of peace.
3. Come then, O God,
our Lord and our Savior. Come and save us from all the perils of the
Evil One, and from our own weakness and frailty. Come and save us in the
hour of temptation,for Thou alone art our King, and none save Thou
shalt rule over us. Come and bring us safe through this valley of tears
to Thy eternal kingdom, where we shall dwell forever, O sweet Jesus, in
the everlasting delights of Thy blissful company. " Meditations # 27 for Advent . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891
Saint Andrew Christmas Novena: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. (15 times)
Glory Be (three times).
Infant Jesus, make me love Thee more and more.
