Feast of St James the Greater and beginning of the New Compostelan Year

The Feast of St James the Greater is celebrated this year on Sunday, therefore, according to Tradition, this year is the Compostelan Year. The story of St James the Greater, from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa can be read here. The picture represent the stained glass panel with enamel paint and silver stain (Switzerland, 1618) and depicting St James the Greater (Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

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"Whoever does the will of my Father is my brother, and sister, and mother"

«My thoughts are not your thoughts,» says the Lord (Is 55,8). Merit does not consist in doing or in giving much, but rather in receiving, in loving much. It is said it is much sweeter to give than to receive, (Acts 20,35) and it is true. But when Jesus wills to take for himself the sweetness of giving, it would not be gracious to refuse. Let us allow him to take and give all he wills. Perfection consists in doing his will, and the soul that surrenders itself totally to him is called by Jesus himself "His mother, his sister," and his whole family.' And elsewhere: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word (that is, he will do my will) and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him." (Jn 14,23). Oh, how easy it is to please Jesus, to delight his Heart, one has only to love Him, without looking at oneself, without examining one's faults too much...

Directors have others advance in perfection by having them perform a great number of acts of virtue, and they are right; but my director, who is Jesus, teaches me not to count my acts. He teaches me to do all through love, to refuse him nothing, to be content when he gives me a chance of proving to him that I love him. But this is done in peace, in abandonment; it is Jesus who is doing all in me, and I am doing nothing. (St Therese of the Child Jesus)

text after DGO

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Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

"All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart" (Lk 2:18-19).

"Close to you, Oh my loving Mother, I have found rest for my heart; I want nothing more on earth. Jesus alone is my entire happiness. If, at times, I feel sadness, if fear assails me, always, by supporting my weakness, Mother, you have deemed to bless me" (St Therese, Poems 7).

Picture by Chant Art graphics.

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First Sunday of July - dedicated to the Most Preciouos Blood of Our Lord Jesus - click to read more

"Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood" (Litany to the Most Precious Blood)

Wherein then can I hope, or in what must I put my trust, but in God's great mercy alone, and in the hope of heavenly grace? ("Imitation of Christ" Book 2, ch 9)

In te Domine speravi (In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped). How happy I was when it was my turn to recite this verse in choir at the time of our great family trial! (St Therese, Novissima Verba)

Litany to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord HERE

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