Tuesday, September 2, 2008 – St. Stephen

“Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” Be patient with everyone, not only with the poweful, but also with the weak.

Finally be strong lest prosperity lift you up to much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this file, that God may raise you up in the next. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate adn do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.

All these virtues I have noted above make up the loyal crown, and without them no one is fit to rule here on earth or attain to the heavenly kingdom.

From Saint Stephen’s advice to his son

Sunday, 31 August 2008 – Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

The supernatural life which we received in baptism is like a seed that must be developed. “Rooted and grounded in love,” we pray that God may increase our faith and hope and that His grace may stir up in us “a never-failing zeal for good works.”

Sunday, August 24 – 2008 – Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

In today’s Epistle, St. Paul admonishes the Galatians to good works, and, in particular, to devote themselves to the practice of humility and charity.

Charity should compel you to be meek and compassionate to all, even sinners, to correct them charitably, and lead them back to the path of virtue; since he who is harsh to the erring, despises and treats them roughly, is often permitted by God to fall into the same, nay, even into greater sins. Particulary you must show your charity one for another, that one bears the burdens of the other; that you bear the faults and imperfections of others just as patiently as you wish others to bear with your own imperfections; thus you will fulfill the law of Christ, which commands us to love our neighbor; you will prevent many sins which are ocassioned by considering yourself perfect, raising your self above other criticizing their failings, and causing disturbance.

Sunday, August 17, 2008 – Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Usury is to demand more than legal interest from our neighbor, to whom we have lent something, or who is otherwise indebted to us. Usurers are the real leeches of the poor, whom they rob of their sweat and blood, and since they transgress the natural law, but still more the divine, which commands us to lover our neighbor, and be merciful to the needy, they will surely not possess the kingdom of heaven. Would to God, the hard-hearted sinner might consider this, and take to heart the words of Christ: What doth if profit a man, if he gain the whole word, and suffer the loss of his own sould! (Mt. 16:26)

Sunday, 10 August, 2008

We accompany thee, on this day, with our most ardent wishes to thy Son, O glorious Virgin, Queen of heaven! And follow thee from afar, O happy Virgin! Give thy mildness to the world, give of the grace thou hast found with God. Obtain by thy blessed intercession, grace for the guilty, recovery for the sick, strength for the faint-hearted, aid for those in peril! Dispense to us thy servants, who on this glorious festival-day invoke thy sweetest name, O gentlest Queen, the grace of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord and God, to whom be glory forever. Amen

Sunday, 27 July 2008

O Lord Jesus, who during Thy life on earth didst cure the sick and the infirm, open my ears that they may listen to Thy will, and loosen my tongue that I may honor and announce Thy works. Take away from me, O most bountiful Jesus, the desire for human praise, that I may not be led to reveal my good works, and thus lose the rewards of my Heavenly Father. (Mt. 6:1)

Sunday, 20 July, 2008

The Publican’s prayer was acceptable to God because, though short, it was humble asn contrite. He stood afar off, as if to acknowledge himself unworthy of the presence of God and intercourse with men. He stood with downcast eyes, thus showing that he considered himself because of his sins unworthy to look towards heaven, even confessed himself a sinner, and struck his breast to punish, as St. Augustine says, the sins which he had commited in this heart. This is why we strike our breast at certain times during Mass, for by thiswe acknwoledge ourselves miserable sinner and that we are sorry for our sins.

The Church’s Year