St. Eligius, Bishop and Confessor A.D. 659.
by VP
Posted on Monday December 01, 2025 at 04:00AM in Saints
"He was brought up to a working trade: but being mindful that he was to work for heaven, as well as for bread, his great care was to join the exercises of religious duties to his trade, as of prayer, fasting, watching, and alms-deeds; and as often as circumstances would permit, he had some good book open before him. Learn to sanctify your labours by his example. If you are of the number of those who work for a livelihood, endeavour to be faithful in what you have undertaken. And this, not only in regard of your neighbour, by carefully avoiding what is fraudulent, or may be to his prejudice, through your neglect; but likewise to God and your own soul, by a watchful care against all the suggestions of a covetous, worldly, or solicitous temper; that so you neither rob him of his honour, nor deprive yourself of what is necessary for your salvation. What will your gain profit you, if you lose your soul?
If your employment be in works of charity, or in such business as your state requires, lose not the advantage of what you do, but daily offer to God your labours. Mix them with thoughts of heaven, that your industry may be serviceable for the next life, as well as this.
The piety of St. Eligius became so remarkable, that he was called forth to the ecclesiastical state, and consecrated bishop; and having fulfilled all the duties of his charge
with wonderful zeal, made a happy end in the year 659.
Pray for all bishops in God's Church, that they may follow so great an example. It being the first day of the month, forget not to begin it so, that if it should be your last, it may be to you the beginning of a happy eternity." The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Prayer for the Bishops:
O Jesus, Prince of Pastors, Shepherd and
Bishop of our souls, give our bishops ................ all those
virtues, which they need for their sanctification! May they watch over
themselves and the entire flock, with which the Holy Spirit has
entrusted them! Fill their hearts with Thine own Spirit! Give them
faith, charity, wisdom and strength! Send them faithful co-laborers in
the great work of saving and guiding souls! Make them shepherds after
Thine own heart, living only for their holy office, fearing nobody but
Thee, and hoping for nothing but Thee, in order that when Thou shalt
come, to judge shepherds and flocks, they may obtain the unfading reward
of eternal life! Amen
Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. Raleigh, N.C. March 25, 1956
Month of December: Immaculate Conception
by VP
Posted on Monday December 01, 2025 at 03:00AM in Monthly Devotion
Devotion for the Month of December: the Immaculate Conception
Prayer of St. Bernard: THROUGH thee, O ever blessed Virgin, may it be
allowed to us to approach thy Son. Through thee, O Fountain of Grace,
Source of Life, and Mother of Salvation, may we be received by Him Who
was given to us by thee. May thy immaculate sanctity,
O most holy Virgin, hide from His eyes the stain of our corruption, and
may thy most profound humility obtain from God the pardon of our pride.
May thy boundless charity cover the multitude of our sins, and thy
glorious fruitfulness confer on us fruitfulness of merits. Mother,
Mediatrix, and Advocate, we beg of thee to reconcile us to thy Son, to
recommend us to thy Son, to represent us with thy Son. Oh, most blessed
Mother, by the favour which thou didst find with God, by the
prerogatives which thou didst merit, by the Lord of Mercy, to whom thou
didst give birth, we implore thee to prevail by thy prayers on Him, Who,
through thee, deigned to share our misery and weakness, so that He may
deign to make us sharers of His eternal happiness and glory to Whom,
together with the Father and Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, for
ever and ever. Amen. Novena for the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Louis Parodi, SJ 1915
Virtue for the month of September: Union
Qui manet in eharitate, in Deo manet, et Deus in eo — Whoabidethin charity, abideth in God, and God in him. — I John, iv : 16.
The object of all virtues is to bring us into union with God, in which alone is laid up all the happines that can be enjoyed in this world. Now, in what does ibis unioa properly consist ? In nothing save a perfect conformity and resemblance between our will and the will of God, so that these two wills are absolutely alike — there is nothing in one repugnant to the otber ; all that one wishes and loves, the other wishes and loves ; whatever pleases or displeases one, pleases or displeases the other. — St. John of the Cross.
December's Poetry:
December thou wert named
By whom the wise remember
As fighting warrior famed
To fill Ambition's blighting.
Thy frozen runes appear,
As slanting sun has chosen,
Directing icy cheer
And life of Bloom dissecting.
The smitten hearts are sad
By wind and cold much bitten,
But cheerful is and glad
The soul of bliss less fearful.
Thy mornings shine not bright
Nor fill the daytime yearnings,
Yet glory's thy delight
And shows the festive stories.
The purest feast of her
Who was of bliss the surest
Engages days that stir
The virtuous of all ages.
Thy sainted list is grand
As Nature white is painted
In glowings joys that stand
Above all human knowing.
The manger saw the Light
The inn foretold a danger,
And heaven, in the night,
Announced the saving Leaven.
The Glorious of the meek,
Who spent His days laborious,
Remembers them who seek
His love in sorrow's embers.
First Martyr, John, and they
Who gave their life as charter
The hated sword to stay
Are in they rolls related.
Let cherished be thy days!
Thought Nature now has perished,
December still we praise
Our birthright to remember.
Rev. T.F. Kramer, C.PP.S.
1923 Messenger of the Most Precious Blood, Volumes 28-29
I. What Advent is. (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Monday December 01, 2025 at 12:00AM in Advent Sermons
Advent is a season of penance set apart by the Church to prepare us for the festival of Christmas. It is her desire that on that day, our dear Savior should be born anew in our souls, by an increase of grace, and by the formation of our life upon His example. In order to this the Christian should watch, pray, and do penance. He should suffer no day to pass without grieving for his sins, and imploring the grace of Him who alone can deliver him from them." St. Vincent's Manual : Containing A Selection Of Prayers And Devotional Exercises : Originally Prepared For The Use Of The Sisters Of Charity In The United States Of America.
"1. Advent is the season when we are taught to look forward both to the first coming of our Lord into the world at Christmas-time, and also to His second coming at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. His first coming was to seek and to save that which was lost. His second coming will be to gather His elect into the celestial paradise, and to trample all His enemies under His feet. Shall I on that day be regarded by Him as a friend or as an enemy? Is my present life one of devotion to Him and union with Him, or one of selfishness, pride, impatience of the yoke of Christ?
2. Of all the miracles in the world never was there one to be compared to His coming on earth in the form of a man. It was a miracle so entirely above and beyond our reason that unless we knew it by faith to be a fact we should be inclined to pronounce it impossible. That the infinite God should take the form of a creature! that the Eternal Word should be clad in a body formed of the dust of the earth! that He should of His own accord leave the highest heaven for a life of suffering and a death of agony! Nothing but the power of God could work such a wonder as this.
3. Yet we know that it is a fact. "For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven." He yearned after us with a divine love. Willingly, joyfully, almost eagerly He stripped Himself of all His glory. "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death." Who after this can refuse to believe that He loved us and still loves us fondly, tenderly? Who can refuse to love Him in return, and to show this love by a loyal obedience to all that He asks of us?"
Meditations for Advent . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891 Digitized by google
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)
Prayer to the Holy Infant for priests
Jesus, Divine Infant, I bless and thank
Thy most loving Heart for the institution of the priesthood. Priests
are sent by Thee as Thou were sent by the Father. To them Thou entrusted
the treasures of Thy doctrine, of Thy Law, of Thy Grace, and souls
themselves.
Grant me the grace to love them, to listen to them,
and to let myself be guided by them in Thy ways. Jesus, send good
laborers into Thy 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 Thy 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 Thee more and more!
