In a word, the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity have endeavoured to show the love which God has borne us, that we may love him through gratitude.

 It is, then, but just that we love that God who has been the first to love us, and to put us under so many obligations by so many proofs of tender love.

“Let us, therefore, love God, because God first hath loved us." (1 John iv. 19.)

Oh! what a treasure is charity! it is an infinite treasure, because it makes us partakers of the friendship of God.

”She is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God." (Wis. vii. 14.)

But, to acquire this treasure, it is necessary to detach the heart from earthly things.

“Detach the heart from creatures," says St. Teresa, "and you shall find God."

In a heart filled with earthly affections, there is no room for divine love.

Let us therefore continually implore the Lord in our prayers, communions, and visits to the blessed sacrament, to give us his holy love; for this love will expel from our souls all affections for the things of this earth.

”When," says St. Francis de Sales, ”a house is on fire, all that is within is thrown out through the windows."

By these words the saint meant, that when a soul is inflamed with divine love, s/he easily detaches him/herself from creatures: and Father Paul Segneri, the younger, used to say,

that divine love is a thief that robs us of all earthly affections, and makes us exclaim:

”What, O my Lord, but thee alone, do I desire ?"

Homily preached by St Alphonsus Liguori 

In a word, the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity have endeavoured to show the love which God has borne us, that we may love him through gratitude.

 It is, then, but just that we love that God who has been the first to love us, and to put us under so many obligations by so many proofs of tender love.

“Let us, therefore, love God, because God first hath loved us." (1 John iv. 19.)

Oh! what a treasure is charity! it is an infinite treasure, because it makes us partakers of the friendship of God.

”She is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God." (Wis. vii. 14.)

But, to acquire this treasure, it is necessary to detach the heart from earthly things.

“Detach the heart from creatures," says St. Teresa, "and you shall find God."

In a heart filled with earthly affections, there is no room for divine love.

Let us therefore continually implore the Lord in our prayers, communions, and visits to the blessed sacrament, to give us his holy love; for this love will expel from our souls all affections for the things of this earth.

”When," says St. Francis de Sales, ”a house is on fire, all that is within is thrown out through the windows."

By these words the saint meant, that when a soul is inflamed with divine love, s/he easily detaches him/herself from creatures: and Father Paul Segneri, the younger, used to say,

that divine love is a thief that robs us of all earthly affections, and makes us exclaim:

”What, O my Lord, but thee alone, do I desire ?"

Homily preached by St Alphonsus Liguori 

Bishop Ralph Heskett CSsR Homily Installation Mass...

Homily for Installation

Before I begin the homily I would like to thank you, the priests, religious and lay faithful for your warm welcome to the diocese of Hallam.  In particular, I would like to thank all those who wrote to me when the announcement of my appointment was made, welcoming with an assurance of prayers.  Many of those who wrote offered words of encouragement, too, informing me of all the things I could look forward to when I arrived in Hallam, - the many places of interest to visit, some of local customs etc.  One particular custom mentioned by someone born in Sheffield and now living in exile in the north-west caught my eye and I am looking forward to trying it for myself and I quote:

“No self-respecting Sheffield home would be without Henderson’s Relish, a slightly spicy black vinegar based product use on savoury pies and fish and chips.” Something to look forward to……..

Read more: Bishop Ralph CSsR Homily Installation Mass

In June 2013 Fr. Richard Reid was one of the preachers at the Clonard Novena. The videos of the homilies courtesy of the Clonard youtube account are below.

Prayer of Saint Alphonsus to the Holy Spirit

You made Mary full of grace and inflamed the hearts of the apostles with a holy zeal.

R. Inflame our hearts with your love

You are the spirit of goodness

R. Give us the courage to confront evil

You are fire

R Set us ablaze with your love

You are light

R. Enlighten our minds, that we may see what is truly important

You are the dove

R Give us gentleness

You are a soothing breeze

R. Bring calm to the storms that rage within us

You are the tongue

R. May our lips ever sing God's praises

You are the cloud

R. Shelter us under the shadow of your protection

O Holy Spirit, melt the frozen, warm the chilled, and enkindle in us an earnest desire to please you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer of Saint Alphonsus to the Holy Spirit

You made Mary full of grace and inflamed the hearts of the apostles with a holy zeal.

R. Inflame our hearts with your love

You are the spirit of goodness

R. Give us the courage to confront evil

You are fire

R Set us ablaze with your love

You are light

R. Enlighten our minds, that we may see what is truly important

You are the dove

R Give us gentleness

You are a soothing breeze

R. Bring calm to the storms that rage within us

You are the tongue

R. May our lips ever sing God's praises

You are the cloud

R. Shelter us under the shadow of your protection

O Holy Spirit, melt the frozen, warm the chilled, and enkindle in us an earnest desire to please you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer in Honour of Saint Clement Hofbauer

Gracious God, out of care and compassion for humanity, you filled Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer with a special zeal for the well-being of people, especially those who are poor or troubled in spirit. In Saint Clement you revealed the richness of your loving kindness and mercy. 

Through his intercession, help us to remain true to the Catholic faith, which he so nobly taught. Let us walk in the path that Saint Clement marked out by his own life.  Hear and answer us, God, through Christ out Lord 

Amen

Thirteen Bon Mots of Blessed Francis X. Seelos, C.Ss.R.

Selected from Fr. Michael Curley's Cheerful Ascetic
By Joseph W Oppitz, C.SS.R.

Someday, I will become a second Francis Xavier.

Dear Mother, how I thank you for having taught us children a great devotion to the Mother of God.

Such an inheritance from parents is worth more than gold or silver.

Today we will have no writing.

The Blessed Mother has appeared to me and told me to become a missionary.

I was John Neumann's subject, but was more like a son who needed help.

In every respect, he was a remarkable father to me.

Baltimore is one of the loveliest and most beautiful cities in all of North America.

If these riots continue, I may even have the privilege of becoming a martyr

— a wonderful way to go to heaven.

According to people I am a thorough saint. In reality, I am a thorough scoundrel.

If the Church should ever decide to celebrate the feast of a rude rascal,

[Secretary of War] Stanton would easily qualify — even with an octave.

I love the work of the missions more than all other labors;

it is a complete apostolic employment in the Lord's vineyard.

If the Americans were as expert in spiritual matters as they are in business affairs,

all of them would be saints.

I have made the rounds of all the houses in the province. Only New Orleans yet remains.

I have come here to pass the rest of my days and find a lasting resting place at Saint Mary's.

I feel I have traveled enough. I shall never leave New Orleans.

So the doctor says I am to die! Oh, what pleasant news! How thankful I am!

And to you, doctor, how much I have to return thanks for your kindness and attention to me!

I never thought it was so sweet to die in the Congregation. I now begin to know what happiness it is to live and die a Redemptorist. Oh, let us love our vocation and strive to persevere in it!

Then everything will be all right with us.

Thirteen "bon mots" or simple sayings of Fr. Seelos, taken from an article published in Spiritus Patris
some about the spiritual life, some just comments about current affairs — all showing the simple humanity of our beloved Father Seelos.

Seelos' Top 10 Practical Guide to Holiness

1. Go to Mass with deepest devotion.
2. Spend a half hour to reflect upon your main failing & make resolutions to avoid it.
3. Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes, if a half hour is not possible.
4. Say the rosary every day.
5. Also daily, if at all possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament; and toward evening, meditate on the Passion of Christ for a half hour.
6. Conclude the day with evening prayer & an examination of conscience over all the faults & sins of the day.
7. Every month make a review of the month in confession.
8. Choose a special patron every month & imitate that patron in some special virtue.
9. Precede every great feast with a novena, that is, nine days of devotion.
10. Try to begin & end every activity with a “Hail Mary.”

Prayer for Young People

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

And pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

St Therese of Lisieux 1873-1897