Work for God (Septuagesima)
by VP
Posted on Saturday February 15, 2025 at 11:00PM in Sunday Sermons
"Why stand you here all the day idle?"-Matt. xx.
"We are all called by God, my dear brethren, to labor in His vineyard. That is to say: we are called to serve God faithfully; to fulfil His Divine will; to observe His laws and precepts; to avoid the evil He forbids, and to do the good He prescribes. And we are not only called, but we are strictly bound to fulfil all that is included in this service of God. We are bound in justice, we are bound by gratitude to labor in God's vineyard for His honor and glory, for the salvation of our souls.
God has a supreme right to our service. We are His creatures. It is God who created us, who called us out of nothing. To God we owe our life; to Him we owe the preservation of that life during every moment of existence. And therefore does St. Paul say, "In Him we live and move and have our being." Thus we are entirely dependent on God: we belong to Him, and He has supreme jurisdiction over us; He has the right to prescribe how we should live, how we should serve Him. There can be no exception to this law; He has the sole right to require every one to labor in His vineyard. Where there is a right, there must also be a corresponding duty. It is God's right to command the service of every one; it is the duty of every one to obey.
Hence there can be no idlers in God's vineyard; no man can offer the excuse that he has not been hired.
Every act of neglect of God's service, every evasion of His law, is always an act of injustice. Every sin has, besides its specific malice, the malice of injustice. Every idler in the vineyard of the Lord is in a state of sin; if he says that he has not been hired, he is a liar. God hires every man who comes into this world.
Besides the claim God has on us in justice, He has also a claim on our service by reason of the Redemption. We belong to Him because of the price He has paid for our salvation. "He has redeemed us at the price of His Precious Blood." Justice makes us serve Him, but higher than justice is the claim of love. And His Love constrains us to obey Him. Love makes Him sovereign Lord and Master. We belong neither to the world, nor to the devil, nor to ourselves: we owe nothing to them; we owe everything to Him whose love for us has moved Him to buy us with His blood. And so it is, my brethren, that every act of rebellion against God's law is always an act of ingratitude as well as injustice; every sin, besides its special malice, has the malice of injustice and ingratitude.
What pitiful, what hardened creatures we are when we forget these plain truths: when we act as though we were a law unto ourselves, and practically act as though we are responsible to no one. How dull is our sense of justice, how hardened is our heart when we can forget or ignore God and the claims He has upon us. We let the devil rule us, we make passion our master, we lift up self in place of God.
Are there any amongst us here this morning who have forgotten what they owe to God? Are there any whose years of sin and neglect of God have made them so deaf that they cannot hear His call to them; who do not know that their place is in His vineyard? To such as these does God now say, "Why stand you idle?" You who have wasted the morning, the noon, perhaps the evening of life in idleness, in sin; "go you into my vineyard"; there is still a chance for you to redeem the wasted time. Wake up out of your lethargy. Shake off the stupor that unhallowed pleasure and secret sin have cast over you. Smash the chains that have bound you to the service of the devil, the slavery that has smothered within you every instinct of justice, every worthy prompting of the heart, every noble aim in life. "Why stand you here idle?" This is the call of God to you. Go you into the vineyard of His service. What though for years you have neglected His call, His mercy is still near you, and He will pay you what is just— will pay you with life eternal.
We are now on the threshold of Lent - the special season of prayer and penance. Be no longer idle. Enter upon God's service with courage, with honest zeal, with firm hope in God's mercy. Begin at once - begin with a good confession. God is now calling you; for many of you it is even now the eleventh hour; for many of you this call may be the last."
Source: Five minutes sermons for Low Masses for every Sundays of the Year by the Priests of the Congregation of Saint Paul 1893
Saint Juliana, Virgin and Martyr, About 300 AD
by VP
Posted on Saturday February 15, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
Domenico Fetti: St. Juliana
"In prison, she was said to have been exposed to a vision of a demon who
pretended to be an angel of light and asked her to sacrifice to the
pagan gods. Juliana recognised the deception and shouted: “Lord God of
heaven and earth, do not leave me and do not allow your maid to perish.”
She defeated the tempter who admitted to her that the devils suffer
especially when Christians assist at Mass." Prayer for Reparation
"A holy virgin of Nicomedia, who in the persecution of Galerius Maximianus, not consenting to marry a certain governor, who was a heathen, drew upon her the fury of her idolatrous father, and likewise of him whom she had refused to marry. Finding her not to be prevailed upon by all the flatteries they could propose, they commanded her by order of justice to be hung up by the hair, to be cruelly scourged, to be tormented with hot plates of iron, to be cast into a furnace, and into boiling oil; and being miraculously preserved, she was at length beheaded, and so brought to the possession of her heavenly spouse.
Are you not here taught how much you ought to value your faith, and not to put this to the hazard upon any consideration which this world can offer you? Is not here a condemnation of those, who in disposing of themselves or of their children, look about for worldly advantages of titles, state, or preferments, and let these determine their choice as to marriage, profession, or service, without any regard to the hazard they run of that which is most valuable, and is the only thing above all to be considered? This is not according to the Gospel, which commands, before all things, to seek the kingdom of God and His justice, and to venture everything else for securing this. Resolve to make this your rule for yourself, and all that belong to you. If you are a loser by it, remember that such loss will be your greatest gain. It is the loss of the martyrs, and will not your gain be the same as theirs. It is a loss for time, but it will be gain for eternity.
Pray for all who are under troubles, whether temporal or spiritual; that God would be their protector and comforter, and strengthen them against all temptations of impatience and distrust. Your charity to them now may bring relief to you when it comes to your turn. Pray to this holy virgin and martyr, to intercede in your behalf." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
SS. Faustinus and Jovita, Martyrs, A.D. 121.
by VP
Posted on Friday February 14, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
Vincenzo Foppa
(–1515)
"Two brothers, who by their zealous labours in converting many infidels to the Christian faith, drew upon themselves the fury of unbelievers. They were apprehended, exposed to wild beasts, and cast into the fire and sea. But being miraculously delivered, after many torments, they were at length beheaded, and thus finished a glorious martyrdom, in the year 121.
Pray for their constancy,
courage, and patience: and since God leads his most faithful servants
through so difficult ways, ought you not to offer yourself with patience
to go through those difficulties which he appoints for you? What are
all your troubles, if compared with theirs? You would willingly come at
length to the same crown; but you would have it at an easy rate. And what is this but the effect of self-love, a love of ease and quiet here, without a true sense or faith of that eternal rest that is come? And can this self-love ever bring you to the possession of Him,
who requires self-denial as an indispensable condition in all those who
pretend to follow Him? Consider then seriously to what you pretend; and
if it be to heaven, remember that patience, humility, and submission to
the will of God are the Gospel way to it. The time
for practicing these, is in provocations, persecutions, troubles
difficulties, disappointments, and distress. If in these circumstances
you regard little what God requires, but indulge your own passions, is
not this putting yourself out of the way of heaven, and neglecting those opportunities which He puts into your hands, and which, if well made use of, might be the purchase of it? Resolve now on a better method, on a method of suffering with humility and patience, as often as God shall call you to the trial. Trust in Him; and be confident that He who strengthened the martyrs will also be your helper, either in delivering you from your troubles, or giving you grace to go through them and leave it to Him to do what He knows best for you." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Saint Zachary, Pope (91rst pope)
by VP
Posted on Friday February 14, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
"St. Zachary succeeded Gregory III., in 741, and was a man of singular meekness and goodness. He loved the clergy and people of Rome to that degree that he hazarded his life for them on occasion of the troubles which Italy fell into by the rebellion of the Dukes of Spoleto and Benevento agaisnt King Luitprand. Out of respect to his sanctity and dignity, that king restored to the Church of Rome all the places which belonged to it, and sent back the captives without ransom. The Lombards were moved to tears at the devotion with which they heard him perform the divine service. The zeal and prudence of this holy Pope appeared in many wholesome regulations which he had made to reform or settle the discipline and peace of several churches. Saint Boniface, the Apostles of Germany, wrote to him against a certain priest named Virgilius, that he labored to sow the seeds of discord between him and Odilo, Duke of Bavaria, and taught, besides, many errors. Zachary ordered that Virgilius should be sent to Rome, that his doctrine might be examined. It seems that he cleared himself; for we find this same Virgilius soon after made Bishop of Salzburg. Certain Venetian merchants having bought at Rome many slaves to sell to the Moors in Africa, Saint Zachary forbade such an iniquitous traffic, and, paying the merchants their price, gave the slaves their liberty. He adorned Rome with sacred buildings, and with great foundations in favor of the poor and pilgrims, and gave every year a considerable sum to furnish oil for the lamps in Saint Peter's Church. He died in 752, in the month of March.
Reflection: Oh, That we realized the omnipotence of prayer! Every soul was created to glorify God eternally; and it is the power of every one to add by the salvation of his neighbor to the glory of God. Let us make good use of this talent of prayer, lest our brother's blood be required of us at the last."
Source: Lives of the Saints, with reflections for every day in the year.
To God the Father.
Be mindful, O Eternal Father, of Thy Church, which Thou hast possessed
from the beginning; recognize in her the unspotted bride, for whom Thy
Adorable Son shed His Precious Blood. Vouchsafe to exalt her, to
sanctify and replenish her with such an abundance of Thy graces, that
she may be worthy of her Divine Spouse, and that her children may
confess Thee with a lively faith, call upon Thee with a firm hope, and
love Thee with a perfect charity. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
To God the Son
O Lord Jesus, the True Light, that enlightenest every man coming into
the world, dissipate, I beseech Thee, the darkness of heresy and schism.
Open the eyes of those in error, that they may perceive the brightness
of Divine Faith, and embrace the doctrines of the true and only Church,
so that, for the future, there may be but one fold and one flock. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
To God the Holy Ghost.
O Holy Ghost, Spirit of Peace and Love, enkindle in the hearts of
princes, the fire of divine charity, which Thou camest to cast upon the
earth! Teach them not to meditate any enterprise subversive of Thy Glory
of They Church's peace, but to seek by every means in their power to
attain for themselves and those confided to them the enjoyment of
eternal repose. Amen
Our Father, Hail Mary.
To the Most Holy Trinity
Adorable Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Who didst create the souls
of infidels after Thine own image and likeness, hear the prayers of
pious Christians, and the supplications of Thy Church; disperse the
blindness of idolaters; send among them men truly apostolic, who may
teach them the only saving faith; and grant them the grace to know and
adore Thee for evermore. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
Prayer for our Holy Father the Pope
O God, the Pastor and Governor of all the faithful, look propitiously on
Thy servant N., whom Thou hast constituted Head of Thy Church; grant
him grace to form to virtue and religion, both by word and example, the
flock committed to his charge, so that they may, with him, attain the
rewards of eternal life. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
May the Almighty and Merciful God graciously hear us.
And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr
by VP
Posted on Thursday February 13, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
Saint Valentine, Kneeling in Supplication. 1677, David Teniers
"He was a priest, and lived at Rome in the third age after Christ, under the Emperor Claudius II. Having employed his charity in instructing the ignorant, helping the sick, and assisting the martyrs in the persecution, he was apprehended. The emperor sent him to the prefect of Rome; who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith ineffectual, commanded him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards to be beheaded; which was executed on the 14th of February, about the year 270. Pray for all of his sacred character: they have a great charge, and require a powerful assistance of heavenly grace to be faithful in it. Pray that those, who have undertaken it, may follow the charity of this saint, and spare no pains in the discharge of their sacred duties. The corruption and ignorance of the world make their labours endless. Beg therefore for them, patience, zeal, longanimity, and perseverance; for they want all that you can ask for of this kind.The heathens had a lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls at this time, in honour of their goddess, Februata Juno. In order to abolish this profane and dangerous practice, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets which were given on this day. St. Francis of Sales severely forbade the customs of valentines; and to abolish it, he changed it into giving papers with the names of certain
saints, to be particularly honoured, and as an encouragement to imitate
their virtues. This pious custom prevails in many religious houses; and
is to be commended. But there are great abuses in the common practices on this day, which should be condemned and abolished as unworthy of true followers of Christ. Evil is often the more dangerous, when the occasion of it
is less suspected. In this way many Christians are brought into great
snares, while they unwarily strengthen their own passions, and beginning
with the spirit, too often end in the flesh. Be charitable then to all, but familiar with none. This is the advice of the pious author of the Following of Christ; and will prove your best security." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Prayer:
Antiphon: This Saint fought, even unto death, for the law of his God, and feared not the words of the wicked, for he was set upon a firm rock.
Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we who solemnize the festival of Blessed Valentine, your martyr, may, by his intercession, be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Don Gueranger.
Saint Stephen of Reiti, 6th Century ABBOT AND CONFESSOR.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday February 12, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
"He was born in Italy, and having been piously educated, he resolved upon forsaking the world. For this he made choice of a desert mountain covered with woods, where, with the boughs of trees, he made a shelter against the injury of the weather, and there lived in the practice of great austerities of watching, praying, and fasting to the age of fourscore, when God called him to a better life.
If you have forsaken the world, let your life manifest the choice you have made. Retirement has many advantages, but no security. If you are not faithful to what you profess, you will meet with many temptations, and may find at last a deeper hell than others who had not such opportunities for gaining a better life. If you are in the world, walk with fear, because you are in danger. Many things will offer, seemingly innocent, which yet will take off your heart from God. If you admire what others have renounced that they might save their souls, you must either conclude them to have been rash, or that you are obliged to be very cautious how you go on. You must endeavor to separate your heart from the world: otherwise this will separate your heart from God; and how then will it ever come to the possession of him?
This saint retired into a desert, where, free from the distractions of the world, he might attend with greater application to the concerns of eternity. Lament the many dissipations of mind, to which you have voluntarily exposed yourself. Resolve to withdraw from whatever is dangerous, unprofitable, or not becoming your state. Pray for constancy amidst all unavoidable distractions: remember God and eternity in the midst of your business. Learn to be a hermit in the world, by taking off your affections from all that you possess. You are one day to leave all; practice something of this every day. It is a difficult work, and is best done by degrees. Pray for all those who have the charge of governing a community, that they may follow the example of this saint." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, Confessors
by VP
Posted on Tuesday February 11, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
The Holy Founders of the Servites
"While wars were raging all over Italy and its cities mourned the blood that brothers shed in conflict with brothers, the Virgin appeared and showed, as she always does, fresh tokens of a mother's love. She summons seven who waited on her in prayer, bidding them be faithful to her command of recalling in sorrowful contemplation the sufferings that Jesus bore and that she in person shared at the foot of her Son's cross. Immediately they obey their Lady's summons. They turn their backs on their magnificent palaces and wealth and, leaving the city of Florence far behind, hide themselves in the caves of Monte Senario. Here they inflict cruel punishments on themselves, atoning for the sins of guilty men; here by their prayers and tears they turn aside from men God's anger. The sorrowful Mother encourages them and tells them to wear a habit of mourning. Thus the dutiful beginnings of the holy company prosper, and men come to hear of marvellous happenings. A vine puts forth green leaves in winter, thus telling the glory of these men. Unweaned children call them by name as Mary's own 'Servi'.
*The fathers so spend their time of retirement from the world that they seem to Peter of Verona in a vision to be like seven pure white lilies, well pleasing to the Virgin in heaven and dazzling in their beauty. And now, under the impulse of divine love, they hasten from city to city and make their way over all the countryside with the intention of implanting in all souls the sorrows of their Mother. By this means the preaching of the holy men avails to tame senseless anger; it unites savage hearts that are blind to peace, uplifts the sorrowing and calls sinners back to repentance. When at length death comes ot them, the Virgin accompanies her "Servi", brings them to heaven and adorns them, blessed now for ever, with jewelled garlands. May they hear our sighs as we are gathered together to pray, regard us as we make our laborious efforts and always favour our prayers with their kindly help".
St. Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch, Confessor, A.D. 381.
by VP
Posted on Tuesday February 11, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
St. Meletius of Antioch
"THIS saint was of one of the best families of Lesser Armenia. In his youth he made fasting and mortification his choice, in the midst of every thing that could flatter his senses. His conduct was uniform and irreproachable; and the sweetness and affability of his temper gained him the confidence and esteem both of the Catholics and Arians. He was promoted to the see of Antioch in the time of the Emperor Constantius; when, by the tumults of the Arians, the Eastern Church was in confusion. The Arians however, prevailed with the emperor to banish him into Lesser Armenia. The Emperor Julian having allowed the banished bishops to go back to their churches, St. Meletius returned to Antioch about the the end of the year 362; but the generous freedom with which he opposed idolatry, provoked that emperor to banish him a second time. But Jovian soon after succeeding that unhappy prince, St. Meletius returned to Antioch. The next emperor, Valens, banished him a third time; but he was restored a third time by his successor, the Emperor Gratian.
He governed his flock with remarkable exemplarity, and the opinion of his sanctity among his people was very great. He submitted to the orders of Providence with wonderful resignation, and at length died at Constantinople, being called there to the first general Council assembled in that city, in the year 881.
Give thanks for the zeal and virtue of the primitive bishops. It was by them that Christianity was preserved; and you owe it to their sufferings that you are now a Christian. Pray for the pastors of the Church. Good pastors are a great blessing, and bad ones are as great a judgment. It is the sins of the people that draw this upon them: see that you have no part in provoking these public scourges. Imitate the holy life of St. Meletius. Though continually opposed and persecuted, by his great meekness and patience he had converted the various trials he had gone through into occasions of virtue, and had exceedingly endeared himself to all who had the happiness of his acquaintance." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Prayer for Holiness in Priests
Grant, O Lord, that every hand laid upon
Thee at the altar may be a friendly hand, whose touch is tender and
consoling as Josephʼs was; That the lips which form so many sacred words
may never be profaned by frivolous or unworthy speech;That priests may
guard, even in the noisy streets of the city, the impress of their noble
functions, the bright token that they have but lately come down from
Thy holy mountain; And in their garments the fragrance of the altar,
that everyone may find them living memorials of Thee, accessible to all,
yet more than other men.
Grant that they may contract from the
Mass of today a hunger and thirst for the Mass of the morrow, that the
sacred anticipation be their last thought at night and Thy tender
summons their first awareness in the morning;That Thy priests, filled
with Thee and Thy good gifts may give largely to the rest of men who
look to Thee. Amen
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
by VP
Posted on Monday February 10, 2025 at 11:00PM in Prayers
Be thou blessed, O most pure Virgin, who
didst deign to appear in the grotto of Lourdes as many as eighteen
times, resplendent with light, sweetness, and beauty, and to say to the
humble and simple child who contemplated thee in ecstasy, " I am the
Immaculate Conception!" be thou blessed for the extraordinary favors
which thou dost unceasingly scatter around this place.
By thy
maternal heart, O Mary, and by the glory which the holy Church has
rendered thee, we conjure thee to pray for the Sovereign Pontiff and for
Father [ name ] and to realize the hopes of peace which the
proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception excited in the
breasts of the faithful. Amen.
Source: St. Josephʼs Manual ( Rev. James Fitton, 1877)
Father Price's Daily Prayer
O Mother Immaculate, Patron of America, who, through little Bernadette, bade us pray and work for the conversion of the countless souls now perishing. I offer all the prayers, actions, and sufferings of this day and every day of my life for their conversion, and I beg of thee to bless my resolution to do what I can throughout my life to bring about their salvation.
St. Bernadette, Pray for Father Price.
Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. May 2 1949
Saint Scholastica
by VP
Posted on Sunday February 09, 2025 at 11:00PM in Saints
Mort de Sainte-Scholastique - 1730 painting, Alsace, Bas-Rhin, Altorf, Saint-Cyriaque abbey church
"A holy virgin, sister of St. Benedict; "who," as St. Gregory says, was chosen from her cradle to be a victim holy and agreeable to God." She lived for some years in the world; but in such manner as if it had been a solitude, shutting her heart and eyes to all its charms, and not letting the considerable inheritance which fell to her, by her brother's forsaking the world, make any change in the method of her life, or in the design she had of going into retirement. Wherefore she soon followed her brother, choosing a place near his monastery, where she lived in the practice of a general self-denial, even so as never to see her brother but once a-year. As she was not allowed to enter his monastery, he went out with some of his monks to meet her, at a house at some small distance. They spent these visits in the praises of God, and in spiritual conferences. The last time that they met, St. Scholastica begged her brother towards evening to delay his return till the next day, that they might discourse during the night of the happiness of heaven. St. Benedict desired her not to insist on such a request, as he could not pass a night out of his monastery. His holy sister prayed to God very earnestly; and her prayer was scarcely ended, when there came such a storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, that St. Benedict and his companions were obliged to remain in the house. He complained to her, saying, "God forgive you, sister, what have you done?" She answered: "I asked a favour of you, and you refused it me: I asked it of Almighty God, and He has granted it." They accordingly passed the night in pious conferences, and the next morning they parted, to meet no more in this world. St. Scholastica died three days afterwards.
Pray for all religious, that the spirit of this saint may be preserved among them; that having retired from the world, they may not find pretexts to keep up still a commerce with it. Pray for all who are amidst the dangers of the world, that they may be watchful and mindful that religious duties must be the exercise of all who think in earnest of gaining heaven." A Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayer for Spiritual Fathers
Most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank
Thee for thou faithful priests and bishops, whose spiritual fatherhood
and example of fidelity, self-sacrifice, and devotion is so vital to the
faith of your people. May our spiritual fathers be guided by the
example of St. John Vianney. Give them valiant faith in the face of
confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and
steadfast love for Thee, for their families, and for all Thou people
throughout the world.
May the light of Thy Truth shine through
their lives and their good works. Assist all spiritual fathers, that
through Thy Grace they may steadily grow in holiness and in knowledge
and understanding of Thy Truth. May they generously impart this
knowledge to those who rely on them, Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Source: Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests: Curé of Ars St. John Marie Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock.
