Preaching and Prayer

St Alphonsus' Morning Meditation for Christmas Day.

Let every soul, then, enter the Cave of Bethlehem.

Behold and see that tender infant, who is weeping as he lies in the manger on that miserable straw.

See how beautiful he is: look at the light which he sends forth, and the love that he breathes;

those eyes send out arrows which wound the hearts that desire him;

the very stable, the very straw cry our and tell you to love him who loves you;

to love God who is infinite love, and who came down from heaven, and made himself a little child, and became poor, to make you understand the love he bears for you.

Come and say to him

'Ah beautiful Infant! Tell me whose child art Thou?"

He replies; "My Mother is this pure and lovely Virgin who is standing by me."

"And who is Thy Father?" "My Father," he says, "is God."

"How is this? Thou art the Son of God, and art so poor, and why?

Who will acknowledge Thee in such a condition? Who will respect Thee?"

"Ah," replies Jesus, "holy faith will make know who I am, and will make Me loved by those whose souls I come to redeem and to inflame in my love."

I am not come, says He, to make myself feared, but to make myself loved;

and therefore I wished to show myself to you for the first time as a poor and humble infant, that, seeing to what my love for you has reduced me, you might love me the more.................

Come, then, O all ye devout souls.

Jesus invites you to come and kiss his feet this night.

The Shepherds who came to visit him in the stable of Bethlehem brought their gifts;

you must also bring your gifts.

What will you bring him?

The most acceptable present you can bring him is that of a contrite and loving heart.

St Alphonsus' Morning Meditation for Christmas Day.

Let every soul, then, enter the Cave of Bethlehem.

Behold and see that tender infant, who is weeping as he lies in the manger on that miserable straw.

See how beautiful he is: look at the light which he sends forth, and the love that he breathes;

those eyes send out arrows which wound the hearts that desire him;

the very stable, the very straw cry our and tell you to love him who loves you;

to love God who is infinite love, and who came down from heaven, and made himself a little child, and became poor, to make you understand the love he bears for you.

Come and say to him

'Ah beautiful Infant! Tell me whose child art Thou?"

He replies; "My Mother is this pure and lovely Virgin who is standing by me."

"And who is Thy Father?" "My Father," he says, "is God."

"How is this? Thou art the Son of God, and art so poor, and why?

Who will acknowledge Thee in such a condition? Who will respect Thee?"

"Ah," replies Jesus, "holy faith will make know who I am, and will make Me loved by those whose souls I come to redeem and to inflame in my love."

I am not come, says He, to make myself feared, but to make myself loved;

and therefore I wished to show myself to you for the first time as a poor and humble infant, that, seeing to what my love for you has reduced me, you might love me the more.................

Come, then, O all ye devout souls.

Jesus invites you to come and kiss his feet this night.

The Shepherds who came to visit him in the stable of Bethlehem brought their gifts;

you must also bring your gifts.

What will you bring him?

The most acceptable present you can bring him is that of a contrite and loving heart.

The Redemptorist Virtue for the month of December is :

december

Virtue: Love of the Cross

Patron: St. Matthias (Apostle)

Rule XIII: Self denial and Love of the Cross

Text: If anyone comes after me,

let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matt. 16:24

The cross is a symbolic term for human suffering.

Experience had taught Alphonsus that all people suffer in some way; the question is not whether we will suffer, but how. We can respond to the how of suffering by developing a love of the cross—having the spirit of Christ, bearing the cross with gentleness, with cheerfulness, with love.

As you face the challenge of examining your personal sufferings in light of the sufferings of Christ, pray for the courage to accept these sufferings. It is a great challenge indeed!

Thanks www.redemptorists.com

november

November Virtue: PRAYER

Patron: St Thaddeus

Text: "Pray continually and never lose heart" Luke 18:1

Prayer is the heart of the practical plan of spirituality presented by Saint Alphonsus.

As the heart pumps life -
giving blood to all parts of the body, so prayer enlivens the whole Christian life.

Without it, spiritual growth is impossible.

Of the many aspects of prayer developed in the writings of Saint Alphonsus,

two stand out and are appropriate suggestions for practice this month.

First, be especially aware of God' s presence in the Eucharist and try to make the sacrament the centre of your life.
Second, set aside at least fifteen minutes each day for meditation, opening your mind and heart to God.

Thanks www.redemptorists.com

The Redemptorist Virtue for the month of September...

september

SEPTEMBER Virtue: Mortification

Patron: St Matthew, Apostle

Text: "He that hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life eternal"
(St. John 12: 25)

RULE IX

MORTIFICATION.

Mortification refers to the Christian ideal of dying to self through deliberate restraint of our unruly passions andappetites. It refers to our struggle against evil inclinations.

poppies

Alphonsus distinguishes between external mortification for example, fasting, controlling one's tongue and internal mortification " the discipline of the heart," overcoming aversions, resentments, dangerous attachments.

While both kinds of mortification are important, Alphonsus views the internal as both more demanding and more fruitful for spiritual growth.

During September you might reflect on the resentments or dangerous attachments in your life and pray for the grace to overcome them.

Thanks www.redemptorists.com

alphonsus2

St. Alphonsus helps us, with

Help To Holiness - Desire And Resolution

Holiness means loving God.

To love God, we must first desire to love him.

If we do not want something, we will, certainly go to little trouble to obtain it!

So it is with the love of God.

He that has small wish to advance in divine love will become lukewarm and, continuing this tepidity,

will soon fall totally away from God.

On the other hand whoever aspires after holiness, and makes daily efforts to advance, will, little by little, attain it.

Saint Teresa assures us:

God leaves no deisre without its reward.

But let us not trust to our own efforts to advance in holiness, but hope for all from and through God.

He will give us strength which, of course, we do not possess.

I can do all things in him who strengthen me.

Philippians 4:13

Many desire holiness but never take the means to gain it!

They want to do great penance and practice great prayer,

but such desires are mere fancies.

Saint Teresa often said:

The devil has no dread of irresolute souls.

alphonsus4

RESOLUTIONS

Let us then fix our minds in the ways of God.

Let us resolve to meditate each day on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us resign ourselves in peace to God's plan for us.

Let us endeavour, in the time remaining to us, to give all to God.

Jesus has given himself to us;

may God help us to give ourselves to him.

PRAYER

Jesus, my saviour, help me.

I am resolved truly to love you,

and to leave all to please you.

Help me to free myself from everything

that hinders me from belonging wholly to you

who have loved me so much.

By your prayers, O Mother Mary,

which are so powerful with God,

obtain for me this grace

to belong wholly to God.

alphonsus2

St. Alphonsus helps us, with

Help To Holiness - Desire And Resolution

Holiness means loving God.

To love God, we must first desire to love him.

If we do not want something, we will, certainly go to little trouble to obtain it!

So it is with the love of God.

He that has small wish to advance in divine love will become lukewarm and, continuing this tepidity,

will soon fall totally away from God.

On the other hand whoever aspires after holiness, and makes daily efforts to advance, will, little by little, attain it.

Saint Teresa assures us:

God leaves no deisre without its reward.

But let us not trust to our own efforts to advance in holiness, but hope for all from and through God.

He will give us strength which, of course, we do not possess.

I can do all things in him who strengthen me.

Philippians 4:13

Many desire holiness but never take the means to gain it!

They want to do great penance and practice great prayer,

but such desires are mere fancies.

Saint Teresa often said:

The devil has no dread of irresolute souls.

alphonsus4

RESOLUTIONS

Let us then fix our minds in the ways of God.

Let us resolve to meditate each day on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us resign ourselves in peace to God's plan for us.

Let us endeavour, in the time remaining to us, to give all to God.

Jesus has given himself to us;

may God help us to give ourselves to him.

PRAYER

Jesus, my saviour, help me.

I am resolved truly to love you,

and to leave all to please you.

Help me to free myself from everything

that hinders me from belonging wholly to you

who have loved me so much.

By your prayers, O Mother Mary,

which are so powerful with God,

obtain for me this grace

to belong wholly to God.

St Alphonsus is known as the patron of Arthritics as he suffered from the condition for many years.

St. Alphonsus, you are the special patron of all who suffer from arthritis and the pains of many years. When our fingers twist with pain, keep us focused on the hands of Christ pierced with nails.When our knees throb with endless aches,allow us to see the knees of Jesus smashing to the street under the heavy cross. When our backs stiffen with soreness, let us remember the back of Christ thrown across the cold, rough wood of the cross. When our hips, elbows, knuckles, and other joints hurt so much that tears well up in our eyes, help us to recall the tears, the sweat, and the blood that flowed from our crucified Jesus Who suffered so much more for each of us.

St. Alphonsus,you were afflicted with curvature of the spine and confined to a wheelchair in your final years.Teach us to unite all our pains with the sufferings of Jesus. By your intercession may our pains be eased - but even more, may we be one with Jesus in his death and resurrection for the redemption of the world.

Amen.

Crib, Cross, Altar and Mary

If you were to ask any Redemptorist about the spirituality of our Congregation, he would immediately say these words to you - Crib, Cross, Altar and Mary!

The Crib is the place where the most wonderful event, the Incarnation, took place - And the Word was made flesh...
The Cross is the place where Jesus says, I love you so much I will die for you!
The Altar is the place where we receive Jesus in the form of bread and wine, His Body and Blood.
His last act for us was when he said to the beloved disciple, Behold your mother.

From the prayers below you will see how Alphonsus understands these four words:

CRIB

phoca_thumb_l_stpatscrib My dearest Jesus, if it is true that ownership is acquired by gift, then you are truly mine since the Father has given you to me. You were indeed born for me; you were given to me.

As Scripture says: "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us." (Isa 9:6)

Therefore I can justly say to you: "My God and my all."

And since you are mine, everything that belongs to you is also mine. (See Rom 8:32)

Therefore your precious blood is all mine, your grace is mine, your paradise is mine; and since you are mine, who can ever take you away from me?

Amen

"Meditation for the Novena of Christmas."

CROSS

cross gold Was it possible that God, the creator of all things, would have been pleased to die for love of his creatures?

Yes, it is through faith that he done so, "as Christ loved us and gave himself for us" (Eph 5:2).

The earth, the heavens, and all nature with astonishment witnessed Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, the Lord of the Universe, die in intense pain and anguish, like a criminal on a disgraceful cross.

Why? For the love of humanity!

Lord, I have known your Passion and not only have I not loved you, but I have frequently offended you. Pardon me, I beg you and remind me continually of the death you have suffered for love of me, so that I may never again offend you, but may also love you....

My crucified Jesus, I want to be yours alone now and forever, and I will love no one else but you. Amen

"The Way of Salvation."

ALTAR

phoca_thumb_l_kinnoullchurch My loving Jesus, you can give us no greater proofs of your live than those which you have already given us.

You have given your life to us – and you have bequeathed yourself to us in Holy Communion, that we may be nourished with yourown flesh and blood. How can we see all these testimonies of your love and fail to love you in return?

I thank you for giving me the time and opportunity not only to regret the offenses I have committed against you but also to love you for the rest of my life.

Help me, my Jesus, to reject and expel from my heart each and every affection which is not directed toward you, so that from this day forward I may not desire, nor seek, nor love anyone but you alone.

My God whom shall I love if not you, who are my supreme good? Amen.

"Meditation for the Octave of Corpus Christi"

Mary

phoca_thumb_l_olpscrowned

O most beautiful Lady,I rejoice in seeing you so dear to God because of your purity and beauty.

I thank God for having preserved you from every stain of sin; and since you are so loved by the Holy Trinity, do not refuse to look with love upon me, a sinner.

Obtain for me from God pardon for my sins and eternal salvation.

Look down upon me and change me.

Draw my heart to you so that from now on I may truly love your Son and you.

You know that I have placed my hopes in you, my dear mother, so do not abandon me!

Help me in life through your powerful intercession, and come to my aid, especially at the hour of my death. Amen