St. Hilary of Poitiers, France. Bishop and Confessor, Doctor of the Church A.D. 368 (the Hammer of the Arians)
by VP
Posted on Tuesday January 14, 2025 at 12:00AM in Poetry
Saint Hilaire, peint par Pierre-Floréal Crémière
- The Church is the Ship outside which it is impossible to understand the Divine Word, for Jesus spoke from the boat to the people gathered on the shore.
- The utter folly of our time is lamentable, that men should think to assist God with human help and to protect the Church of Christ by worldly ambition.
He was of a most illustrious family in Gaul, and brought up in idolatry. But by the divine grace he was happily converted to the Christian faith; and from his baptism led a life of eminent zeal and piety. He had lived with so much regularity in a conjugal state, that for his extraordinary virtues he was made choice of to be bishop of the diocese wherein he lived. Pray for all who have the care of families: they have the charge of them under God, being his vicegerents, and must give an account of all the disorders, whether in children or servants, which are occasioned by their ill example or neglect. How few families are to be found, in which Christian discipline and order are observed! Those who should give the example, are irregular themselves; and then what becomes of those who are under their charge? Spare not your prayers on a subject which demands your tears; and if you have any part in this duty, pray that you may be faithful in it. Beg pardon for past errors, and take effectual care to amend. Think not your charge small: weigh it in all its particulars, and you will find it very great.
St. Hilary, being made bishop, applied himself wholly to the discharge of his duty. He stood resolutely against the enemies of the Christian faith, by preaching, writing, and disputing, and opposed the then prevailing errors of the Arians. Pray for the extirpation of all errors, especially that of the Arians. Pray for all the bishops of Christ's Church; that in their piety, vigilance, and zeal, they may follow the example of this saint in reforming all abuses destructive of faith and a good life. Do your part in being an advocate for truth by your good example.
St. Hilary died in the year 368. He is styled by St. Augustin, "the illustrious doctor of the Churches :" and St. Jerome says that he was a "most eloquent man, and the trumpet of the Latins against the Arians." Recommend yourself and all belonging to you on this his festival to his holy intercession." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
To the Divine Infant
by VP
Posted on Tuesday January 14, 2025 at 12:00AM in Poetry
Infant of Prague: Mother Of Mercy, Washington NC)
Prayer to the Holy Infant for priests
Jesus, Divine Infant, I bless and thank
Your most loving Heart for the institution of the priesthood. Priests
are sent by You, as You were sent by the Father. To them You entrusted
the treasures of Your doctrine, of Your Law, of Your Grace, and souls
themselves.
Grant me the grace to love them, to listen to them,
and to let myself be guided by them in Your ways. Jesus, send good
laborers into Your harvest. May priests be the salt that purifies and
preserves; may they be the light of the world; may they be the city
placed on the mountain. May they all be formed after Your own Heart. And
in heaven may they be surrounded by a joyous throng of those they
shepherded on earth. Amen.
Glory Be three times.
Infant Jesus, make me love You more and more!
To the Divine Infant:
Sweet Infant - God! I humbly fly to Thee,
For I have heard Thy whisper all divine:
"Come all who labor, come with trust to me,"
"Your hearts can only rest in love of mine."
Sweet Infant - Jesus! I believe in Thee,
And hope for mercy from Thy loving Heart.
O may I love and serve Thee fervently!
"The Prince of peace," "Emmanuel" Thou art!
Sweet little Jesus! Souls so dear to Thee
Shall be the objects of my tender love.
O grant that we may all eternally
Rejoice and praise Thee in the land above.
Written by: Enfant de Marie (These lines were suggested by the beautiful prayer in honor of the Holy Infant of Prague, composed by the Carmelite, Father Cyril a Matre Dei.)The Carmelite review, 1898
Their Gifts: (3) Myrrh
by VP
Posted on Tuesday January 14, 2025 at 12:00AM in Meditations
"1. Myrrh is the herb used most largely for embalming. It has the power to prevent corruption and preserve the purity and freshness of the body which is in contact with it. It was offered to Our Lord as a testimony not only of the perfect and unsullied purity of those to whom He is united by the bonds of charity, but also in evidence of the power of His sacred body to save from corruption those who partake of it in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
2. Thus myrrh was offered to Our Lord as possessing a true human body, as truly Man as well as truly God. We must never lose sight of this fact of Christ's Humanity, that He has all the sympathy and interest in all that concerns us that we have perhaps received from some kind earthly friend, all His desire to help us, all His wisdom, prudence, patience, appreciation of our griefs and sorrows; and all this to a degree compared with which our best friend on earth does not deserve the name. Why do I not have recourse to Him more ?
3. Myrrh is also the symbol of mortification. If our bodies are to be pure, we must mortify our evil desires and give up what is very attractive to our lower nature. If we desire great purity of heart, we must mortify ourselves in things lawful, and deny ourselves even what we might enjoy without sin. Do I do this?"
Meditations for Christmas . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891
