Virgo Potens

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 14th 70. To give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received and are continually receiving is an excellent means of exercising humility, because by thanksgiving we learn to acknowledge the Supreme Giver of every good: and for this reason it is necessary for us always to be humble before God. St. Paul exhorts us to render thanks for all things and at all times: “In all things give thanks”; [1 Thess. v, 18] “Giving thanks always for all things.” [Ephes. v, 20] But that our thanksgiving may be an act of humility it must not only come from the lips but from the heart with a firm conviction that all good comes to us through the infinite mercy of God. (continued)

2 of 2 10.—The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus 1. On the same day two of the disciples, in their sorrow and disappointment, set off together to Emmaus, a little village some eight miles distant from Jerusalem. They did not act wisely in departing from the little community, and seeking thus to divert themselves from their sorrow. If they had remained at home, they would soon have heard the confirmation, first by one and then by another, of the women's joyful tidings. It is never well for one who is a member of any society, bound by religious ties, to act apart from the rest. Common action and common life carries its own blessing with it. 2. Yet their journey did not divert them from their sadness. One thought, and one only, occupied their minds— they could not shake off the remembrance of the crushing disappointment they had suffered in the death and burial out of sight of Him whom they had hoped was to be the Redeemer of His people. They could not think and talk of any subject but this as they mournfully walked along, side by side, to Emmaus. 3. This sorrow of theirs, this longing regret, was so pleasing to Our Lord that He was drawn by it to come and walk with them and console them on the very morning of the Resurrection. He sought the society of two ordinary disciples, and could not keep away from them, because they were thinking of Him. He is so grateful to those who remember Him! If we remember Him and love Him, He will beat our side though we know it not, ever ready to help and comfort us. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 14th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 10.—The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus Read St. Luke xxiv. 13-16 And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know him. (continued)

2 of 2 Where to find what this month: Catholic Universe https://t.me/Catholic_Universe Liturgical Prayers (Collects), Gospels, Sayings of the Saints, readings from Light and Peace One, Holy, Catholic https://t.me/one_holy_catholic ~ Frederick William Faber, D.D., The Blessed Sacrament, or The Works and the Ways of God (1855) ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M. , The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922) Christus Regnat https://t.me/RexUniversi Seasonal Novenas, Catholic Feasts, Lives of the Saints Glory to God https://t.me/AdDeiGloria Daily Lives of the Saints Catholic Tower https://t.me/catholictower Encouragement and fortification for the journey ~ some of the daily posts from the above. Daily Traditional Catholic https://t.me/dailytradcat Daily compilation of all posts from the above. Daily Traditional Catholic 2 https://t.me/dailytradcat2 Links to video, sermons, news, music, commentaries and more. ✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Month of the Holy Eucharist +A.M.D.G.+ For the greater glory of God! Where to find what this month: Virgo Potens https://t.me/Virgo_Potens ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893) (Easter) ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903). Defende nos in prœlio https://t.me/Defende_nos Traditional Catholic prayers and litanies, including those for the Month of the Holy Eucharist (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 13th O my soul, how dost thou stand in regard to this faithfulness towards God? Art thou not like those servants to whom their master daily entrusts money now to buy one thing, now another, and who each time keep back a small coin for themselves, until little by little they become unfaithful servants and great thieves? In like manner, our pride renders us unfaithful servants when we attribute to ourselves that praise which is due only to a gift that is entrusted to us by God and which ought to be ascribed unreservedly to Him. O Lord, Thou seest all my thefts and I am overwhelmed with astonishment that Thou dost still trust me! Considering my unfaithfulness I am not worthy of the smallest grace, but make me humble and I shall also be faithful. It is certainly true that he who is humble is also faithful to God; because the humble man is also just in giving to all their due, and above all in rendering to God the things that are God’s, that is, in giving Him the glory for all the good that he is, all the good that he has and for all the good that he does; as the Venerable Bede says: “Whatever good we see in ourselves let us ascribe it to God and not to ourselves.” [ Apud D. Th. in Cat. to 5] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 13th 69. The true reason for which God bestows so many graces upon the humble is this, that the humble are faithful to these graces and make good use of them. They receive them from God, and use them in a manner pleasing to God, giving all the glory to Him without reserving any for themselves. This is like the faithful steward who appropriates nothing that belongs to his master; and thus deserves that praise and reward given to the faithful servant mentioned in the Gospel: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things I will place thee over many things.” [Matt. xxv, 21] (continued)

2 of 2 9.—The Appearance of Jesus to the Holy Women 1. After the holy women had delivered their message at the guest-chamber, they returned once more to the tomb, and saw once more the vision of angels. As they returned they saw another sight, which made them forget the angels and the splendor that had filled the empty tomb. Jesus Himself stood before them in His Divine beauty, with words of welcome. What unspeakable joy must have filled their souls—a joy which was an anticipation of the joy which will fill each faithful soul at the judgment, when Jesus welcomes it with the words "Well done, good and faithful servant." 2. With a simultaneous instinct they fell upon the ground and adored with supreme adoration His glorified Humanity. They took hold of His sacred feet lest He should depart from them. He was to them no longer the prophet sent from God to ransom man. Now He was God Himself—God made man, and they feared lest He should return to heaven and they should see Him no more. So we should learn to value the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and after holy Communion. He is closer to us than to these holy women. Why do we not cling more to Him lest He leave us? 3. Jesus consoles their fears. "Fear not: I am not going to depart. You shall meet Me again in Galilee with the assembled disciples. Go tell them from Me to go thither; there they shall see Me." What a privilege thus to be the messengers of Jesus! We, too, can be His messengers, His apostles to others, by carrying His messages of love and consolation to those in distress and misery. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 13th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 9.—The Appearance of Jesus to the Holy Women Read St. Matt, xxviii. 8-10 And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, running to tell his disciples. And behold Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him. Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see me. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 12th We are debtors to God for every benefit that we receive, and are bound to employ these gifts and to trade with them for the glory of God like merchants to whom capital is entrusted. When we consider how many benefits, both of body and soul, we have received from Him, we are compelled to admit that there are so many debts which we have contracted towards Him, and why should we glory in our debts? No prudent merchant, if he has large debts, would go and proclaim the fact in the marketplace and thereby lose his credit; and how can we expect to gain credit by boasting of the many debts we owe to God? Debts so heavy that we run the risk of becoming bankrupt on that day when our Lord and Master will say: “Pay what thou owest.” [Matt. viii, 28] From the benefits we receive of God we should learn lessons of humility rather than of pride, following the teaching of St. Gregory: “The more strict the account that a man sees he must give of his duties, the more humble should he be in the performance of them,”. [Hom. ix in Evang.] Our desire to boast of the favours we have received of God only demonstrates our ingratitude, and we have more cause to humble ourselves for being ungrateful than to glory in the benefits thus bestowed upon us.” ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 12th 68. Let us consider the things of this world in which we are apt to take a vain delight. One may pride himself on his robust health and bodily strength, another on the science, knowledge, eloquence and other gifts that he has acquired through study and art. Another prides himself upon his wealth and possessions; another upon his nobility and rank; another upon his moral virtues, or other virtues which bring him spiritual grace and perfection: but must not all these gifts be regarded as so many benefits proceeding from God, for which we must render an account if we do not use them to resist temptation and conform to the ordination of God? (continued)

2 of 2 8.—The Appearance of Jesus to St. Peter 1. The return of the holy women after their first journey to the tomb produced in the disciples of Our Lord, who were gathered in sorrow and fear in the guest-chamber, the greatest astonishment and dismay. When they told their story, most laughed at it as the offspring of women's imagination. It seemed to be an idle tale, and was not believed. Yet they had heard Our Lord announce in the plainest terms His Resurrection. How slow men are to believe! how unreasonably incredulous and reluctant to accept the Divine promises! 2. But two of those present did not share this kind of blind unbelief. St. Peter and St. John at once hasten to the sepulchre to see for themselves whether the women's words were true. First St. Peter and then St. John enter the sepulchre, see, and believe. On their return Our Lord appears to St. Peter. The chief of the apostles, the future Vicar of Christ, must needs receive the first honor from His Master. Our Lord bestows a special dignity and special privileges on those whom He invests with His own authority. How much, then, we ought to respect them! 3. But Our Lord also chose St. Peter for this honor first of the apostles, to reassure him, to let him know that all was forgiven, that He loved him, in spite of his denial, as dearly as ever. So we need not fear lest our past sins be remembered, if now our hearts are full of love to Jesus. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 12th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 8.—The Appearance of Jesus to St. Peter Read St. John xx. 3-10; Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulchre. And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen cloths lying, And the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. The disciples therefore departed again to their home. St. Luke xxiv. 34 Saying: The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 11th This knowledge of our pride is most humiliating; for where certain other vices may be pitied and excused for some reason or other, pride can never be pitied or excused, being a sin which is diabolical and odious not only to God but to men–—as the inspired word says: “Pride is hateful before God and men.” [Ecclus. x, 7] Let us therefore examine ourselves daily on this point; let us accuse ourselves of it in our confessions; and acknowledging our pride in this manner will be an excellent incentive to become humble. Let us pray to Jesus Christ that He may do for us as He did for the blind man whom He healed, and ask Him to put the mud of pride upon our eyes so that we may be made to see. Let us say to God: “Thou art my God, that God Who ‘raiseth up the needy from the earth and lifteth up the poor out of the dunghill,’ [Ps. cxii, 7] grant that this pride which is my great sin may through Thee serve as an instrument by which I may attain to a virtuous humility!” ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 11th 67. Self-knowledge is a great help for acquiring humility; but in the midst of the many passions, faults and vices of which we are aware, to recognize our own pride is the most useful of all. For this vice is the most shameful of all, and even in our confessions it is more difficult for us to say truthfully: “I accuse myself of being proud and of not trying seriously to correct this fault” than to accuse ourselves of many other sins. (continued)

Words of Our Lord “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matt. xviii, 4

2 of 2 7.—How Jesus appeared to St. Mary Magdalen Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master). Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God. 1. While Mary knelt and wept she suddenly heard a sound behind her, and turning round she saw One standing there whom in her grief and amid her blinding tears she did not recognize. She thought Him to be the gardener of Joseph of Arimathea. So to all His servants Christ sometimes appears under strange forms. The poor old man who asks an alms, the orphan in distress, perhaps the churlish neighbor or trying companion who taxes our patience, are really representatives of Christ, though under strange forms. 2. But when Jesus speaks, when He calls her by her name, then at once she recognizes Him. It is the instinct of love recognizing the voice of the Beloved. One of the tests of love to Jesus is that we at once perceive when it is He that speaks. The ears of those who love Him not can scarcely discern between His voice and the sound of their own natural affections and desires: they have so often refused to listen, that they cease to hear. But His sheep know His voice, and those who love Him best are the quickest to catch every whisper of His grace. 3.Jesus calls her by her name—Mary. In Holy Scripture when God calls any by their name it means that they are to become what the name implies, and that God will give them the grace to do so. Abraham, Israel, Peter, the Holy Name itself, were such names. So Mary means that she who bears the name shares in the grace of her who was full of grace. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST April 11th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 7.—How Jesus appeared to St. Mary Magdalen Read St. John xx. 11-17 But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Eucharist ~ April 10th This should be our model that we may not err in the exercise of humility. To fix our thoughts solely on our own wretchedness might cause us to fall into self-distrust and despair, and in the same way to fix our thoughts solely on the contemplation of the Divine goodness might cause us to be presumptuous and rash. True humility lies between the two: “Humility,” says St. Thomas, “checks presumption and strengthens the soul against despair.” [2a 2æ<>, qu. clxi, art. 1 ad 3] Distrust yourself and confide in God, and thus distrusting and thus confiding, between fear and hope, you shall work out your salvation in the spirit of the Gospel. We should first reflect upon the infinite mercy of God, so as to excite our hope, as King David did: “Thy mercy is before my eyes,” and we should then reflect on His justice, so as to keep ourselves in the fear thereof: “O Lord, I will be mindful of Thy justice alone.” [Ps. lxx, 16] And also in turning our thoughts to ourselves we should first reflect upon man as being the work of God created to His image and likeness, so as to give God the glory; then we should reflect upon the sinner in man which is our work and which ought to make us deeply dejected. “Man and sin,” say St. Augustine, “are as it were two distinct things. What savours of man God made, what savours of the sinner man made himself. Destroy what man has made that God may save what He has made.” [Tract xii, in 10] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).