Virgo Potens

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 4th How the will is moved by grace to co-operate with grace is a mystery which we do not fully comprehend; but it is certain that if we go to heaven we shall then render thanks for our salvation to the mercy of God alone: “The mercies of the Lord will I sing for ever.” [Ps. lxxxviii, 2] We may therefore say with holy King David, and be fully persuaded of its truth, that human nature is weaker and more impotent than we can imagine, because in the nature which we have received of God we have only, through the fall of Adam, ignorance of mind, weakness of reason, corruption of will, disorder of the passions, sickness and misery of the body. We have nothing therefore in which to glory, but in all things we can find fit cause for humiliation. “Humble thyself in all things,” [Ecclus iii, 20] says the Holy Ghost, and He does not tell us to humble ourselves in some things only but in all things–—in omnibus. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 4th 90. It is difficult for us to realize our own nothingness, and it is difficult also to refer all things to God without reserving anything for ourselves, because is not our industry, our diligence, and the co-operation of our will really ours? Let us admit this, but if we take away the light, the help and the grace received of God, what remains to us of all these things? (continued)

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2 of 2 30.— The Charge to St. Peter 1. A second and a third time Jesus puts the same question to St.Peter: "Lovest thou Me?" How anxious He is for our love! This is one of the mysteries of the love of Jesus, that He actually longs that I should love Him, and is athirst for my love. What wonderful condescension for the King of kings to be eager for the affection of a poor worm like me! Yet so it is. I must take Him at His word, and give Him all the love of my heart to satisfy His Divine love for me. 2. Each time in answer to Peter's reply Jesus again confirms his appointment made long before, to be the first Pastor of the flock of Christ. Note that He says each time, "Feed My lambs, feed My sheep." They are not Peter's, but Christ's. So we must remember that if we are in any authority, our subjects are not ours, but Christ's; our children, servants, pupils, are His, and to Him we shall have to give account for our treatment of them. 3. The third time that St. Peter was asked the question he was grieved. The triple question reminded him of his triple denial of Jesus, and besides it seemed as if Jesus doubted his love. But it was not so. Jesus saw into his heart and knew the love that burned there: He desired to elicit from St. Peter a fresh declaration of his love. Christ is pleased to hear us repeat again and again the protestations of our love: "Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love Thee." ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST May 4th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 30.— The Charge to St. Peter Read St. John xxi. 17 He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 3rd My soul, say to thyself: The reason why I do not feel true sorrow for my sins is because of my lack of humility, for it is impossible for the heart to feel either attrition or contrition if it is not humbled. I lack humility, and it is for this reason that I have not the courage to confess my sins straightforwardly and without excuse. Ask God for humility; and in measure as thy heart grows more humble, it will feel deeper sorrow for having offended Him, and from this heartfelt humility the words will flow without difficulty to thy lips, because “He that pricketh the heart bringeth forth resentment.” [Ecclus. xxii, 24] It is pride that compels us to withhold our sins in the confessional and seek to palliate their wickedness with many excuses. O accursed pride, cause of innumerable sacrileges! But O blessed humility! King David was humble in his repentance, because he did not excuse his sins but publicly accused himself of them; nor did he lay the blame of his own sins on others, but attributed them only to his own wickedness: “I am he that have sinned.” [2 Kings xxiv, 17] And the Magdalen also in her repentance did not seek for Jesus Christ in some hidden spot, but sought Him in the house of the Pharisee and desired to appear as a sinner before all the guests. St. Augustine, being truly humble in his repentance, gave the confession of his sins to the whole world for his own greater confusion and shame. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 3rd 89. It is very easy for a proud person to fall into grave and terrible sins; and after having fallen to find great difficulty in accusing himself of them in the Sacrament of penance; for loving his self-esteem and reputation too well and fearing to lose them in the eyes of his confessor, he would rather commit a sacrilege than disclose his weakness. He goes in search of a confessor to whom he is unknown so as to avoid shame; but since he felt no shame in sinning, why should he feel so much shame in confessing his sin, if it be not from motives of pride? (continued)

2 of 2 29.— The Questioning of St. Peter 1. After they had dined, Our Lord addressed to St. Peter a question which was to introduce the conferring upon him of that power which is the central doctrine ot Catholic Christianity. He asked him, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me more than these?" This was the necessary question to put to one who was to be the Vicar of Christ. As his station was to be the most lofty in the Christian Church, so Christ expected of him a love beyond all the rest. How important it is for us to remember that every sort of authority requires a higher personal standard on our part. Priests, parents, masters, employers, each in his or her degree, ought, to love more, in order to be fit for the position in which God has placed them. 2. Peter did not venture to say that he loved more than the rest, but modestly answered, "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." These words came from the bottom of his heart; he had always loved Our Lord fondly and faithfully; even in his denial he still loved Him in his heart. I, too, who have so often fallen, yet will say to Jesus, over and over again, with repeated earnestness, "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." Especially, asI kneel before theBlessed Sacrament, I will address Him, corporeally present there, and protest constantly, "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." 3. In return for his love, and as the best means of proving it, Jesus bids His apostle, " Feed My lambs," or, more literally, "Be shepherd of My lambs." This is the greatest privilege Christ can bestow— to intrust to any, in whatever capacity, the care of the souls of others. How have I fulfilled His trust? Have I fed His lambs with tender care ? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST May 3rd, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 29.— The Questioning of St. Peter Read St. John xxi. 15-17 When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep. (continued)

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2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 2nd The vow of chastity is considered heroic, because we thus sacrifice to God the pleasures of the senses. Martyrdom is considered heroic, because the martyr thus offers up his life as a holocaust to God. And it is also considered heroic to give all one’s goods to the poor. But our self-esteem is certainly what we hold more precious than either money, gratification of the senses, or even life itself, because we often risk all these things for the sake of our reputation. Thus by offering our self-esteem with humility to God we offer that which we deem most precious. This is truly offering “sacrifice to God, and a good savour.” [Ecclus xlv, 20] Those who live in the world can often gain more merit by their humility of heart than those who are vowed to poverty and chastity in the sacred cloister, for it is by the practice of this humility that we form within ourselves the “new creature,” without which St. Paul says that ”Neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision,” [Gal. vi, 15] which is as much as to say that whether you are priest or layman your state can avail nothing without humility. Humility without virginity may be pleasing to God, but never virginity without humility. Were not the five foolish virgins displeasing to Him? “Vanitate superbiæ,” says St. Augustine. And if the Blessed Virgin herself pleased God by her virginity, she also deserved to be chosen for His Mother because of her humility, as St. Bernard says: “By her virginity she pleased God, by her humility she conceived Him.” [Hom. I sup. “Missus est”] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 2nd 88. Even admitting the value of the world’s esteem and fame for the sole reason that we love and desire it in our hearts, we can infer from this how great is the virtue of humility, since, offering all that we hold so precious to God together with our self-esteem, we offer Him something that we value very highly. (continued)

2 of 2 28.— The Easter Banquet 1. When the apostles had brought their boat to land with the splendid haul of fish which they had taken, they found that Jesus had already made preparations for them. He had kindled a fire, and laid fish thereon, and provided bread. They bring the fish they had taken, broil some of them, and then Jesus and His disciples sit around the fire, and in the peaceful quiet of the shores of the lake they eat together their Paschal meal. What a happy feast must that have been! No banquet in the palace of kings half so joyful ! — their hearts intoxicated, not with wine, but with the inebriating delights of companionship with Jesus, and drinking in His sacred words with a rapture like that of Paradise. 2. This time they knew well, one and all, that it was Jesus who was with them. The success of their fishing had suggested that it was He; the overflowing joy of their hearts testified to His presence. Even if their eyes had failed to bear witness to His being their Lord, still they would not have doubted. The time of unbelief and hardness of heart was over. Now they had entered on their inheritance of undoubting faith, that He whom they now saw in the beauty of His Sacred Humanity was the same Jesus who suffered and died on the cross. How happy it is for us when God gives this intimate assurance of Jesus' presence! 3. In Holy Mass, we are as certain that Jesus is present, as the apostles were by the Lake of Tiberias. Every Catholic knows that it is the Lord who has come to feed us— nay, to be Himself the food of our souls. Should not our hearts then burn within us at every Mass if we really appreciate the fact of His Divine Presence? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST May 2nd, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 28.— The Easter Banquet Read St. John xxi. 9-13 As soon then as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them: Come, and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner. (continued)

ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF MARY Heart of Mary, to whose intercession we owe the boundless graces which thy Son has showered upon us during our lives! Heart ever pleading for thy poor, exiled children! How often, alas, thou hast been wounded by our coldness and indifference! How often our transgressions against and negligence of the Commandments of thy Divine Son and the Precepts of His Holy Church, have pierced thy Mother’s Heart with that sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon! To thy Sacred Heart, O Mary, we would now make reparation and atonement, not only for our sins and offences, but for those of all the sinners of the world. O Mother of Mercy, forgive thy poor erring children. Pour forth upon them, from thy Sacred Heart, such streams of light and love that for the future they may avoid and abhor all that displeases and offends thee, and love and pursue only those things appraised and lived by thee. Amen. ~ Prayers and Devotions (1954)

May 2nd, 2026 FIRST SATURDAY of MAY 💙 “See my daughter, how my heart is encircled by thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me, and announce that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the First Saturdays of five consecutive months, confess, receive Holy Communion, recite part of My Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on its mysteries with the intention of offering me reparation.” ~ Words of Our Lady to Sr. Marie (Lucia dos Santos) on December 10, 1925 If possible, make First Saturday devotions today, in reparation for offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested by Our Lady herself in 1925, and confirmed by Our Lord in 1927.

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2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 1st What will it profit me then to have been esteemed and honoured by the whole world, if my conscience convinces me of sin before God? Ah, what folly it would be for a nobleman, possessing talents which would endear him to his king and make him a favourite at court, if he were to seek rather to be adulated by his servants and menials, and to find pleasure in such miserable adulation. But it is a far greater folly for a Christian, who might gain the praise and honour of God and of all the angels and saints in heaven, to seek rather to be praised and honoured by men and to glory in it. By humility I can please God, the Angels and the Saints; therefore is it not a despicable pride that makes me desire the esteem, praise and approbation of men, when we are told that “He is approved whom God commendeth?” [2 Cor. x, 18] The thought of death is profitable in order to acquire humility; and humility helps us greatly to obtain a holy death. St. Catherine of Siena, shortly before her death, was tempted to thoughts of pride and vainglory on account of her own holiness; but to this temptation she answered: “I render thanks to God that in all my life I have never felt any vainglory.” Oh, how beautiful to be able to exclaim on one’s death-bed: I have never known vainglory. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

“Just as it is impossible to be at the same moment both a plant and a seed, so it is impossible for us to be surrounded by worldly honour and at the same time to bear heavenly fruit.” St. Syncletia of Alexandria Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 1st 87. The mistake lies in our having too high an opinion of what the world calls honour, esteem and fame. For however much the world may praise or honour me, it cannot increase my merit or my virtue one jot; and also if the world vituperates me, it cannot take from me anything that I have or that I am in myself. I shall know vanity from truth by the light of that blessed candle which I shall hold in my hand at the hour of my death. (continued)

2 of 2 27.— St. Peter Hastens to Jesus 1. When St. John's instinct of love had recognized his Master, St. Peter's impulse of love prompted him to throw himself into the sea and hasten to His feet. Through the waves and troubled waters, he made his way boldly to the shore where Jesus was calling him. So through the waves and troubled waters of life, the soul that loves Jesus makes its way to Him, following His call, even though it may lead through the waves of sorrow and amid the storms of temptation. He who fixes his eye on Jesus, and thinks only of coming nearer to Him, is always safe. 2. How different is St.Peter's action now from the spirit he formerly displayed! On the occasion of the miraculous draught of fishes he cried, "Depart from me; I am a sinful man." Now he hastens to Jesus. What has worked the change? Then he was honest, brave, faithful, but full of self; now his humiliation hast cast out self-love, and, instead of thinking of his own sins, he thinks only of Jesus. This is what Jesus loves— that we should forget ourselves, and think only of Him. 3. St. Peter casts about him the coat of the fisherman— the symbol of the authority of the supreme Pontiff. The official documents of the Holy Father are given under the seal of the Fisherman. None except those who wear the livery of the Fisherman are recognized by Jesus as fishers of men, or can expect the grace and help necessary for the conversion of souls. This is why the sermons, missions, Bible-readings outside the Church are so devoid of any influence for good; they are not stamped with the seal of the Fisherman, and so are sure to fail. I must thank God that I live a servant and a follower of the Fisherman. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)