The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

*picture from www.photo-junction.blogspot.com

"We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor His mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor Him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son." 

~Saint Louis de Montfort

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary." ~Saint Bonaventure

"Mary having cooperated in our redemption with so much glory to God and so much love for us, our Lord ordained that no one shall obtain salvation except through her intercession." 

~Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri

 

"Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did." ~Saint Maximilian Kolbe

"Before, by yourself, you couldn't. Now, you've turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!" 

~Saint Josemaria Escriva

 

"O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." 

~Saint Basil the Great

"Mary, give me your heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing disguise 

of the poor." ~Mother Teresa

Saint Clare of Assisi

*picture from www.marypages.com

 
"Totally love Him, Who gave Himself for your love." 

~Saint Clare

"Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him."  

~Saint Clare

Today we celebrate Saint Clare of Assisi. Inspired by the teachings and life of Saint Francis of Assisi, she founded an order of nuns known as "the Poor Clares". She was a noblewoman, but she ran away to live a poor, humble life of mortification and simplicity.
 
"They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?" 

~Saint Clare

Some soldiers came to attack Assisi and the convent, so Saint Clare brought the Blessed Sacrament to the wall of the convent so that the soldiers might see it. She prayed to God that He would save the nuns, and suddenly the soldiers ran in fear.

"Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! And transform your entire being  into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation." 

~Saint Clare


"He Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud." 

 ~Saint Clare

In all the picture I have ever seen of Saint Clare, she is depicted holding a monstrance. I'm sure the artists are reminding us of that great day where God saved the nuns from the soldiers, but I think it tells us a lot about Saint Clare. She had a deep devotion to the Eucharist and was a great witness of God's love. She shows us the power of God and that we have nothing to fear if we believe in Him. She reminds me of our Lady who is always pointing us to Jesus. She was a powerful model of holiness in the way she lived and gave up her life for something deeper, something not of this world, but of heaven. So let us ask Saint Clare to lead us to Jesus and love Him in a deeper way, just like she did.

"I come, O Lord, unto Thy sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in Thee, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Thy holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to Thee, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Thy majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine." 

~Saint Clare

"Save me, O Lord, from every evil - of soul and body." 

~Saint Clare

Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us!

Saint John Vianney

*picture from http://thepinoycatholic.blogspot.com

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint John Vianney. He was an amazing saint who lived a life of extreme mortification. He was renowned as a wonderful confessor.

Interesting facts about Saint John Vianney:

•  born May 8, 1786
• died August 4, 1859
• seventy-three years old
• also known as the Curé d'Ars (priest of Ars)
• the devil bothered and attacked him almost every night, occasionally injuring him
• the devil told Saint John Vianney: "If there were three such priests as you, my kingdom would be ruined."
• Saint John Vianney once said: "Oh! The grappin (his nickname for the devil) and myself? We are almost chums."
• the last ten years of his life, he spent 16-18 hours in a confessional
• by 1855, there were 20,000 pilgrims who came to visit him and seek his guidance each year
• had a strong devotion to Mary and Saint Philomena
• 300 priests and 6,000 people attended his funeral
• he is incorruptible - his body is still intact and not decomposed
• his incorrupt body is on display above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars in France
• patron saint of priests

 

*picture from www.christtotheworld.blogspot.com

Quotes by Saint John Vianney:

• Prayer is nothing else but union with God. In this intimate union, God and the soul are fused together like two bits of wax that no one can ever pull apart. This union of God with a tiny creature is a lovely thing. It is a happiness beyond understanding.
• If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.
• My little children, your hearts are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God. Through prayer, we receive a foretaste of heaven and something of paradise comes down upon us. Prayer never leaves us without sweetness. It is honey that flows into the souls and makes all things sweet. When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun.
• I wish I could lose myself and never find myself except in God! 
• You cannot please both God and the world at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.
• When we go before the Blessed Sacrament, let us open our hearts; our good God will open His. We shall go to Him; He will come to us; the one to ask, the other to receive. It will be like a breath from one to the other.
• If we could comprehend all the good things contained in Holy Communion, nothing more would be wanting to content the heart of man. The miser would run no more after his treasures, or the ambitious after glory; each would shake off the dust of the earth, leave the world, and fly away towards heaven.
• All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.