Category: Gesima

25.xii.22 Christmas / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Features / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Evening Meditations for Christmas Day ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

The birth of Jesus Christ brought universal joy to the whole world. He was the Redeemer Who had been desired and sighed after for so many years; and therefore He was called the Desired of the nations, and the Desire of the eternal hills. Behold Him already come, and born in a little cave. Let us consider that this day the Angel announces to us also the same great joy that he announced to the shepherds: Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people; for this day is born to you a Saviour (Luke ii. 10).

25.xii.22 Christmas / Advent / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Spiritual Reading for Christmas Day ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

Hence the Proverb: “If you wish to be loved, love.” But, my Jesus, this rule, this Proverb holds good for others, holds good for all, but not for Thee! Thou art at a loss what further to do to show men the love Thou bearest them! And yet how many are there that love Thee? Alas, the greatest number, we may say nearly all, not only do not love Thee — they offend Thee and despise Thee!

25.xii.22 Christmas / Christmas / Christmas Octave / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Morning Meditation for Christmas Day ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

Arise, all ye nobles and peasants! Mary invites all — rich and poor, just and sinners, to enter the Cave of Bethlehem to adore, and to kiss the feet of her new-born Son. Come then, all ye devout souls — come in and see the Creator of Heaven and earth on a little hay under the form of a little Infant; the power of God, as it were, annihilated, and the wisdom of God become mad, through excess of love! I come, then, dear Jesus, to kiss Thy feet and offer Thee my heart.

18.xii.22 Advent IV / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Features / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Evening Meditations for Christmas Eve ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

God had decreed that His Son should be born, not in the house of Joseph, but in a cave and stable for animals, in the poorest and most painful way that a child can be born; and therefore He so disposed events that Caesar should publish an Edict that every one should go and enrol himself in the city whence he drew his origin.

18.xii.22 Advent IV / Advent / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Spiritual Reading for Christmas Eve ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

St. Thomas of Villanova gives us excellent encouragement, saying: “What art thou afraid of, O sinner? … How shall He reject thee if thou desirest to retain Him Who came down from Heaven to seek thee?” Let not the sinner, then, be afraid, provided he will be no more a sinner, but will love Jesus Christ; let him not be dismayed, but have full trust; if he abhor and hate sin, and seek God, let him not be sad, but full of joy: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord (Ps. civ. 3).

18.xii.22 Advent IV / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Morning Meditation for Christmas Eve ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

Before the coming of the Messias, who loved God upon the earth? He was known, indeed, in one corner of the world; that is, in Judea; and even there how very few loved Him when He came! Even today few there are who think of preparing their hearts for Jesus to be born in them! What sayest thou? Dost thou wish to be ranked amongst the ungrateful ones?

11.xii.22 Advent III / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Features / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Evening Meditations for the Fourth Monday in Advent ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

Our first parent, Adam, having sinned and rebelled against God, was driven out of Paradise and condemned to everlasting death with all his descendants. But behold the Son of God, Who, seeing man thus lost, in order to deliver him from death offers to take upon Himself human flesh, and to die condemned as a malefactor upon the Cross.

11.xii.22 Advent III / 18.xii.22 Advent IV / Advent / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Spiritual Reading for the Fourth Monday in Advent ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

There are two graces clearly distinct one from the other — the grace of Vocation and the grace of Perseverance in one’s Vocation. Many who have received a Vocation from God have afterwards, through their own fault, rendered themselves unworthy to receive the grace of Perseverance. 

11.xii.22 Advent III / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Morning Meditation for the Fourth Monday in Advent ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

The Saviour of the world, Whom, according to the Prophet Isaias, men were to see one day on the earth — and all flesh shall see the salvation of God — has come. And He came on earth, says St. Augustine, that men might know how much God loves them. And how is it, O my dear Jesus, that Thou dost meet with so much ingratitude from the greater number of men?

11.xii.22 Advent III / 24.xii.23 Advent IV / Culture / Daily Mass Propers / Devotional / Features / Gesima / Lent / Lifestyle / Liturgy / Sensus Fidelium

Evening Meditations for the Fourth Sunday in Advent ~ St Alphonsus Liguori

St. Paul says that Jesus Christ, coming on earth, emptied Himself. He annihilated Himself, so to say. And why? To save man and to be loved by man. “Where Thou didst empty Thyself,” says St. Bernard, “there, did Mercy and Charity more brilliantly appear.” Yes, my dear Redeemer, in proportion as Thy abasement was great in becoming Man and in being born an Infant, so were Thy mercy and love shown to be greater towards us, and this with a view to win over our hearts to Thyself.