SAINT TERESA OF AVILA

Words of Wisdom:

We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials.  His Majesty, The Lord, rewards great services with trials, and there can be no better reward, for out of trials springs love for God.

The Saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them they had something to present to God when they prayed to Him. Before prayer, endeavor to realize whose presence you are approaching, and to whom you are about to speak. We can never fully understand how we ought to behave towards God, before whom the angles tremble.

Unless you strive after virtues and practice them, you will never grow to be more than dwarfs.

Christ does not force our will, He only takes what we give Him. But He does not give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves entirely to Him.  


St. Teresa of Ávila

Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada (28 March 1515 – 4 October 1582), was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, author during the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be a founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with John of the Cross.

In 1622, forty years after her death, she was canonized by Pope Gregory XV, and on 27 September 1970 was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI. Her books, which include her autobiography (The Life of Teresa of Jesus) and her seminal work El Castillo Interior (trans.: The Interior Castle), are an integral part of Spanish Renaissance literature as well as Christian mysticism and Christian meditation practices. She also wrote Camino de Perfección (trans.: The Way of Perfection).

After her death, Saint Teresa's cult was known in Spain during the 1620s, and for a time she was considered a candidate to become a national patron saint. A Santero image of the Our Lady of the Conception, said to have been sent with one of her brothers to Nicaragua by the saint, is now venerated as the country's national patroness at the Shrine of El Viejo. Pious Catholic beliefs also associate Saint Teresa with the esteemed religious image called Infant Jesus of Prague with claims of former ownership and devotion. -- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Published:
June 18, 2015, 8:46 AM
January 15, 2013 - Tuesday
April 22, 2011 - Friday
April 11, 2011 - Monday
January 3, 2011 - Monday
November 26, 2010 - Friday
September 26, 2010 - Sunday, 6:15 AM
October 25, 2010 - Monday

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX

THE LITTLE FLOWER

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, or Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, was a French Carmelite nun.

She is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus" or simply, "The Little Flower".

Born: January 2, 1873, Alençon ; Died: September 30, 1897, Lisieux
(Wikipedia)



Today is the feast day of the “Little Flower,” St. Therese of Lisieux. Her nickname was inspired by her life — her way to heaven was very short and humble. She championed humility and love as the foundation of the spiritual life. She lived these two graces to the full, even though she hardly saw anything of the world outside her family home and the walls of her convent. She gained popularity as an inspiration to many, who live similarly simple lives. (Kerygma)

SIMPLICITY

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.  -- St Therese of Lisieux

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple (Ps 19:8).  They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb (Ps 19:11).

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. (2 Corinthians 1:12)

HUMBLE

Dear Lord, you know my weakness. Each morning I resolve to be humble, and in the evening I recognize that I have often been guilty of pride. The sight of these faults tempts me to discouragement. Yet I know that discouragement itself is a form of pride. I wish, therefore, O my God, to build all my trust upon You. As You can do all things, deign to implant in my soul this virtue which I desire.  -- St Therese of Lisieux

"Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4)

PERFECT 

You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love - and only love. Love can do all things. -- St Therese of Lisieux

"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."(Matthew 5:48)

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! (Dt 32:4)

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well (Jas 3:2).
  
Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Mt. 19:21). 

MUCH

The greatest honor God can do a soul is not to give it much, but to ask much of it.  -- St Therese of Lisieux

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luke 12:48)

Published: 
December 24, 2010, 5:44 AM
December 29, 2012, 8:53 AM
September 26, 2013, 10:06 AM
October 01, 2013, 8:15 AM

SAINT ALPHONSUS MARIA DE LIGUORI

Alphonsus Maria de Liguori 

September 27, 1696 – August 1, 1787

Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, scholastic philosopher and theologian, and founder of the Redemptorists, an influential religious congregation. He was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI. Pope Pius IX proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church in 1871.

Today is the Feast day of St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists. He was a remarkable lawyer who became a priest after losing a court case through a very simple mistake. He had won his previous 40 or so cases. He saw a great need to reach out to the rural parishes that were often without priests due to lack of money. He began a very effective parish mission ministry, for which the Redemptorists are still well known. Let us pray for the success of these missions in deepening parishes in their faith. (Kerygma)


HUMILITY
Humility has been regarded by the Saints as the basis and guardian of all virtues.

GOD'S WILL
If I wish to please God, I must do His Will and not my own.

BEG AND PRAY
If we should be saved and become saints, we ought always to stand at the gates of the Divine mercy to beg and pray for, as an alms, all that we need.

REPENTANCE
There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death. -- St. John Damascene, De fide orthodoxa. 2, 4



FEAST : August 1, August 2 (General Roman Calendar)
PATRONAGE : arthritis, confessors, moralists, theologians, vocations; Naples (co-patron)


Published:
August 2, 2014 - 8:30AM
August 1, 2014 - 6:17AM 
December 27, 2012 - 6:07AM 






Entries: 3/24/12-9:29AM

SAINT JOHN FRANCIS REGIS

Saint John Francis Regis is best known for his work with at-risk women and orphans. He established safe houses and found jobs. Regis established the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, which organized charitable collections of money and food from the wealthy. He also established several hostels for prostitutes, and helped many become trained lace makers, which provided them with a stable income, and an opportunity to maintain their humanity under the threat of exploitation.

Regis laboured diligently on behalf of both priests and laymen. His preaching style was said to have been simple and direct. He appealed to the uneducated peasantry and numerous conversions resulted.

Jean-François Régis, known as St. Regis, (31 January 1597 – 31 December 1640), was a French priest of the Society of Jesus, recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. His feast day is 16 June.

Jean-François Régis was born 31 January 1597, in Fontcouverte, Aude, in the Languedoc region of southern France. His father, Jean Régis, had recently been ennobled as a result of service rendered during the Wars of the League. His mother, Marguerite de Cugunhan, was of a noble family. He was educated at the Jesuit College of Béziers. On 8 December 1616, in his nineteenth year, he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Toulouse and he took his vows two years later.

After finishing his course in rhetoric at Cahors, Regis was sent to teach grammar at several colleges: Billom (1619–22), Puy-en-Velay (1625–27), and Auch (1627–28). While he was teaching, he also pursued his studies in philosophy at the scholasticate at Tournon. Owing to an intense love of preaching and teaching the Faith, as well as the desire to save souls, Regis began his study of theology at Toulouse in 1628. Less than two years later, in 1630, he was ordained a priest at 31. The following year, having completed his studies, Regis made his Third Probation.

Regis was now fully prepared for his lifework and entered upon his apostolic career in the summer of 1631. John Francis Regis was a tireless worker who spent most of his life serving the marginalized. As a newly ordained priest, he worked with bubonic plague victims in Toulouse. From May 1632, until September 1634, his headquarters was at the Jesuit College of Montpellier. Here he labored for the conversion of the Huguenots, visited hospitals, assisted the needy, withdrew from vice wayward women and girls, and preached Catholic doctrine with tireless zeal to children and the poor.

In 1633, Regis went to the Diocese of Viviers at the invitation of the local bishop, Monsignor Louis II de la Baume de Suze, giving missions throughout the diocese. From 1633-40 he evangelized more than fifty districts in le Vivarais, le Forez, and le Velay.

Regis's labors reaped a harvest of conversions. However, his boldness – perceived as arrogance in some cases – led to a conflict with certain other priests, a period of tension with the local bishop, and even threats of violence from those whose vices he condemned. Although he longed to devote himself to the conversion of the indigenous inhabitants of Canada, he remained in France all his life.

Regis walked from town to town, in rough mountainous areas where travel was difficult, especially in the winter. He succumbed to pneumonia at age forty-three on 31 December 1640,at Lalouvesc (Ardèche), in France's Dauphiné region.

John Francis Regis was beatified by Pope Clement XI on 18 May 1716,[6] and canonized by Pope Clement XII on 5 April 1737.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SAINT BARNABAS, Apostle

The Holy Spirit said, 

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  

Acts 13:1-2

Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle


St. Barnabas, designated by the Holy Spirit to share the charge and mission of the twelve Apostles, is venerated by the Church as one of them. He played an important part in the first extension of Christianity outside the Jewish world. It was Barnabas who presented St. Paul to the other Apostles when, after his long retreat in Arabia, he came to Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion to submit for Peter's approval the mission to the Gentiles entrusted to him by the Master Himself. Barnabas was Paul's companion and helper on his first missionary journey and returned with him to Jerusalem, but left him when he set out on his second journey and went to Cyprus. The name of St. Barnabas is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass.

Strictly speaking, Barnabas was not an apostle, but the title has been bestowed upon him since very early times. His first name was Joseph; Barnabas (etymology: "son of consolation") was a surname. He belonged to the tribe of Levi. He was a Hellenist, that is, a Jew who lived outside of Palestine and spoke the Greek tongue. Born in Cyprus, he embraced the faith soon after the death of Christ, becoming a member of the original Jerusalem community. His first noteworthy deed was to sell his belongings and place the money at the feet of the apostles.

It is to his lasting credit that he befriended the neo-convert Paul and introduced him to the apostles when everyone was still distrusting the former persecutor. More noteworthy still was his service to the universal Church by being the first to recognize Paul's potential for the cause of Christ; it was Barnabas who brought him from Tarsus to teach at Antioch. The first missionary journey (about 45-48 A.D.) the two made together, and Barnabas seems to have been the leader, at least at the beginning (Acts 13-14). Barnabas' appearance must have been dignified and impressive, otherwise the inhabitants of Lystra would not have regarded him as Jupiter.

He was present with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem (ca. 50). While they were preparing for the second missionary journey, there arose a difference of opinion regarding Mark; as a result each continued his labors separately. Barnabas went to Cyprus with Mark and thereafter is not referred to again in the Acts of the Apostles or in any other authentic source. From a remark in one of Paul's letters we know that he lived from the work of his own hands (1 Cor. 9:5-6). The time and place of his death have not been recorded. It is claimed that his body was found at Salamina in 488 A.D. His name is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass since ancient times. (CatholicCulture.org)

Barnabas, known as the “son of encouragement,” is a key figure in the life of the early Church. He is the one who will introduce and vouch for the credentials of Paul to Church leaders. Barnabas and Paul work closely together for a number of years and then part ways, albeit not amicably. Even holy people have difficulties with relationships. That is why there is hope for us. (Kerygma)

SAINT PHILIP NERI

If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, 

we should never remind anyone 

of his natural defect.

Philip Romolo Neri (Italian: Filippo Neri), CO, (21 July 1515 – 25 May 1595), known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest noted for founding a society of Secular clergy called the "Congregation of the Oratory".

In 1548 he founded (with his confessor, Fr Persiano Rossa) the confraternity of the Santissima Trinita de' Pellegrini e de' Convalescenti,[2] whose primary object was to minister to the needs of the thousands of poor pilgrims who flock to Rome, especially in years of jubilee, and also to relieve the patients discharged from hospitals but who were still too weak for labour. Members met for prayer at the church of San Salvatore in Campo where the devotion of the Forty Hours of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was first introduced into Rome.

St Philip Neri was beatified by Paul V in 1615, and canonized by Gregory XV in 1622.[3] His memorial is celebrated on 26 May in the calendars of both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Roman Rite. His body is in the Chiesa Nuova. Wikipedia

HUMILITY
Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing danger. When a person puts himself in an occasion of sin, saying, " I shall not fall", it is almost an infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul. We must specifically and regularly pray for God's assistance and not rely on our own strength. (11/30/11-6:56AM)

The more blessings you receive, the more you should be humble. Simple living protects you from those who wish to take advantage of your position.

Jesus, so humble of heart, make our hearts like unto thine. Always open our eyes to the truth that who we are and what we are today is because of you. You are the source of all blessings and we give you back all the glory, honor, and praises.



Published:
January 04, 2013 - 6:02 AM

St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Pope of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria is an egyptian although others argued that he was of greek origin. His life of faith, dedication and service to the Lord as Bishop of Alexandria led him to various exiles because of his contradictions to the common belief regarding who the Lord Jesus Christ really is. He became known as "Athanasius Contra Mundum" (Latin for Athanasius Against the World) but nonetheless, St. Gregory of Nazianzus called him the "Pillar of the Church".

Who is Jesus Christ?

In Athanasius time, the Arian position is that "the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, is of a distinct substance from the Father. Christ was the divine Son of God, made, not begotten". This was the common Christological view in Alexandria at the time.

He held that not only was the Son of God consubstantial with the Father, but so was the Holy Spirit, which had a great deal of influence in the development of later doctrines regarding the Trinity.

At the Council of Nicaea, St Athanasius was quoted saying,  "Jesus that I know as my Redeemer cannot be less than God".

Both from the confession of the evil spirits and from the daily witness of His works, it is manifest, then, and let none presume to doubt it, that the Savior has raised His own body, and that He is very Son of God, having His being from God as from a Father, Whose Word and Wisdom and Whose Power He is.

He it is Who in these latter days assumed a body for the salvation of us all, and taught the world concerning the Father. He it is Who has destroyed death and freely graced us all with incorruption through the promise of the resurrection, having raised His own body as its first-fruits, and displayed it by the sign of the cross as the monument to His victory over death and its corruption. – The Incarnation of the Word, Chapter 5, The Resurrection (5:32)

"The Son of God became man so that we might become God. He became what we are, so that He might make us what He is...." [On The Incarnation of The Word, St. Athanasius, Section 54.3]

"Some may then ask, why did He not manifest Himself by means of other and nobler parts of creation, and use some nobler instrument, such as sun or moon or stars or fire or air, instead of mere man? The answer is this. The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men...." [On The Incarnation of The Word, St Athanasius, Chapter 7].


St. Athanasius was born around 293–298 and died 2 May 373. He was the twentieth bishop of Alexandria (as Athanasius I). His episcopate lasted 45 years (c. 8 June 328 – 2 May 373), of which over 17 were spent in five exiles ordered by four different Roman emperors. Athanasius is a renowned Christian theologian, a Church Father, the chief defender of Trinitarianism against Arianism, and a noted Egyptian leader of the fourth century. His episcopate began on 9 May 328 as the Alexandrian Council, elected Athanasius to succeed the aged Alexander.

In 361, Athanasius appealed for unity among all those who had faith in Christianity, even if they differed on matters of terminology. This prepared the groundwork for his definition of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. However, the council also was directed against those who denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit, the human soul of Christ, and Christ's divinity. Mild measures were agreed on for those heretic bishops who repented, but severe penance was decreed for the chief leaders of the major heresies.

Athanasius put forward the belief that the Son of God, the eternal Word through whom God created the world, entered that world in human form to lead men back into the harmony from which they had earlier fallen away.


Source:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

ST. JOSEPH WITH THE INFANT JESUS

Guido Reni (c. 1635)

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Joseph the Worker. Let us remember the plight of workers and laborers throughout the world, particularly those who are not paid a just wage for their labors. Justice in the workplace is a two-way reality: Owners must pay a fair wage and workers must do an honest day’s work. In economic terms, labor and capital must work together to create a fairer workplace and a better world.

We ignore the plight of those in need because we do not realize the significance of a person’s suffering. We should do all that we can to ensure that the goods we buy are not products that result from the exploitation of workers. Let us also consider whether paying ridiculous prices for designer products is morally acceptable or not, when so many people struggle to put food on their tables. Could the money we spend on fashion be put to a better use?

The first day of May, traditionally named Labor Day because of the emphasis on work and its intrinsic goodness, has also found its way in the life of the Church. The Church upholds Joseph the Carpenter — the father of Jesus and husband of Mary. Twice in the Church’s year, St. Joseph is celebrated — on March 19 he is honored as the spouse of Mary, and today, May 1, he is celebrated as a model for workers.

St. Joseph was born in  Bethlehem in 90 BC and died in Nazareth, July 20, AD 18. We celebrate his Feast day as "St. Joseph the Worker" every May 1. He is the patron saint of the Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, carpenters, realtors, against doubt and hesitation, and of a happy death.

St. Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus and is venerated Saint Joseph in some Christian traditions. Christian tradition places Joseph as Jesus' foster father.

The gospels describe Joseph as a "tekton" (τέκτων). Tekton has been traditionally translated into English as "carpenter", but is a rather general word (from the same root that gives us "technical" and "technology") that could cover makers of objects in various materials.

The Greek term evokes an artisan with wood in general, or an artisan in iron or stone. But the specific association with woodworking is a constant in Early Christian tradition; Justin Martyr (died c. 165) wrote that Jesus made yokes and ploughs, and there are similar early references.

As we give our works to the Lord, let us ask Him to help us to be faithful and successful.

St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us. Amen.


From:
Kerygma
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fr. Brian Steel, MGL