Catholic devotions for 31st August

 Scroll down for today's

Saint of the Day/ Feast

Reading of the Martyrology

Dedication of the Month

Dedication of the Day

Rosary

Five Wounds Rosary in Latin

Seven Sorrows Rosary in English

Latin Monastic Office

Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict

Celebration of Mass

Reading from the School of Jesus Crucified

Feast of Saint Raymond Nonnatus, Cardinal

Raymond was born at Portella, Catalonia, Spain. He was delivered by caesarean operation when his mother died in childbirth. Hence his name non natus (not born). He joined the Mercedarians under St. Peter Nolasco at Barcelona. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and went to Algeria to ransom slaves. He remained as hostage for several slaves when his money ran out and was sentenced to be impaled when the governor learned that he had converted several Mohammedans. He escaped the death sentence because of the ransom he would bring, but was forced to run the gauntlet. He was then tortured for continuing his evangelizing activities but was ransomed eight months later by Peter Nolasco. On his return to Barcelona in 1239, he was appointed Cardinal by Pope Gregory IX, but died at Cardona a short distance from Barcelona the next year while on the way to Rome. He was canonized in 1657. He is the patron saint of expectant mothers and midwives because of the nature of his own birth. Although his mother died in labor, Raymond miraculously survived the ordeal. His feast day is August 31.

Source 

Semen est sanguis Christianorum

The blood of Christians is the seed of the Church 

Tertullian, Apologeticum, 50

The Reading from the Martyrology

This Day, the Thirty-First Day of August

At Cardona, in Spain, St. Raymond Nonnatus, Cardinal and confessor, of the Order of Mercedarians, renowned for holiness of life and miracles.

At Treves, the birthday of St. Paulimis, a bishop, who was exiled for the Catholic faith by the Arian emperor Constantius, in the time of the Arian persecution. By having to change the place of his exile, which was beyond the limits of Christendom, he became wearied unto death, and finally, dying in Phrygia, received a crown from the Lord for his blessed martyrdom.

Also, the holy martyrs Robustian and Mark.

At Transaquae, among the Marsi, near lake Celano, the birthday of the holy martyrs Cresidius, priest, and his companions, who were crowned with martyrdom in the persecution of Maximinus.

At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the Saints Theodotus, Rufina, and Ammia. The first two were the parents of the martyr St. Mamas, who was born in prison, and whom Ammia brought up.

At Athens, St. Aristides, most celebrated for his faith and wisdom, who presented to the emperor Adrian a treatise on the Christian religion, containing the exposition of our doctrine. In the presence of the emperor, he also delivered a discourse in which he clearly demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the only God.

At Auxerre, St. Optatus, bishop and confessor.

In England, St. Aidan, bishop of Lindisfarne. When St. Cuthbert, then a shepherd, saw his soul going up to Heaven, he left his sheep and became a monk.

At Nusco, St. Amatus, bishop.

On Mount Senario, near Florence, blessed Bonajuncta, confessor, one of the seven founders of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord whilst discoursing to his brethren on the Passion of our Saviour.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

Omnes sancti Mártyres, oráte pro nobis. 

("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)

Source

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Composed by Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, shortly after his reception into the One, True Fold of the Redeemer

Sunday is the Day dedicated to Resurrection & the Holy and Undivided Trinity

Sundays are, of course, the day for renewing Christ's once and for all Sacrifice during the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Because Christ rose from His tomb on Sunday, Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sundays, or "the Lord's Day." On this day we fulfill God's Third Commandment, to "remember the sabbath day (which means "rest", not "Saturday"), to keep it holy." We refrain from unecessary servile work and fulfill our "Sunday Obligation" to attend Mass.

Prayers for Every Day of the Week

Source

The Athanasian Creed in English 

The Athanasian Creed in Latin

The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Sunday

"I would like to remind you that the Rosary is a biblical prayer, all filled with the Holy Scriptures." It is a prayer from the heart, in which the repetition of the Ave Maria directs the thought and affection towards Christ, and thus is made a confident prayer to Him and our Mother. It is a prayer that helps to meditate on the Word of God and assimilate the Eucharistic Communion, on the model of Mary who kept in her heart everything Jesus did and said and even His Presence. " Pope Benedict XVI

The Rosary in Latin

Chaplet of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ in Latin

 

Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady in English

 Latin Monastic Office for today from Le Barroux in France     Texts also provided

The Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict for August 31

LXXIII. DE HOC QUOD NON OMNIS IUSTITIAE OBSERVATIO IN HAC SIT REGULA CONSTITUTA

1 Regulam autem hanc descripsimus, ut hanc observantes in monasteriis aliquatenus vel honestatem morum aut initium conversationis nos demonstremus habere. 

2   Ceterum ad perfectionem conversationis qui festinat, sunt doctrinae sanctorum patrum, quarum observatio perducat hominem ad celsitudinem perfectionis. 

3  Quae enim pagina aut qui sermo divinae auctoritatis veteris ac novi testamenti non est rectissima norma vita humanae?    

4 Aut quis liber sanctorum catholicorum patrum hoc non resonat ut recto cursu perveniamus ad creatorem nostrum? 

5 Necnon et Collationes Patrum et Instituta et Vitas eorum, sed et Regula sancti patris nostri Basilii, 

6 quid aliud sunt nisi bene viventium et oboedientium monachorum instrumenta virtutum. 

7 Nobis autem desidiosis et male viventibus atque neglegentibus rubor confusionis est.

8 Quisquis ergo ad patriam caelestem festinas, hanc minimam inchoationis regulam descriptam, adiuvante Christo, perfice, 

9 et tunc demum ad maiora quae supra commemoravimus doctrinae virtutumque culmina, Deo protegente, pervenies. Amen.

 

CHAPTER 73. THE WHOLE OBSERVANCE OF JUSTICE IS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS RULE

1 We have written this Rule so that, by observing it in monasteries, we may demonstrate that we have somewhat grasped honorable behavior and the beginnings of this way of life. 

2 But for those hastening to the perfection of this way of life there are the teachings of the of the holy Fathers, the observance of which leads one to the heights of perfection. 

3 For what page or what words are there in the divinely-inspired Old and New Testaments that are not a most direct norm for human life?

4 Or what book of the holy Catholic Fathers does not resoundingly proclaim the direct path by which we may reach our Creator? 

5 Moreover, the Conferences of the Fathers, their Institutes and their Lives, as well as the Rule of our holy Father Basil - 

6 what else are these for good-living and obedient monks than instruments of virtue? 

7 But to us who are lazy, bad-living, and negligent they bring the blush of shame.

8 Whoever you are, therefore, hastening toward your heavenly homeland; fulfill with the help of Christ this little Rule for beginners we have written: 

9 and then at last you will arrive under God’s protection at the loftier summits of doctrine and virtue we have spoken of above. Amen.

    

Today's celebration of Mass 

Also today

Blessed Bonagiunta, one of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order

Today was also the Feast of the Servite Martyrs Agostino Cennini, Bartolomeo Donati, Lorenzo Nerucci, Giovanni Battista Petrucci and 60 Companions (died c. 1420), martyred by the Hussite heresy in Prague, beatified on 25 June 1918, but because of historical uncertainties regarding the alleged martyrdom of these friars (moreover, only four names were recovered), the cult was suspended during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI

Meditation for the 31st Day of the Month from the School of Jesus Crucified

The side of Jesus is wounded by a spear

Jesus XPI Passio sit semper in cordibus nostris

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts

"The Cross is our trophy against the demons, our sword against sin, and the sword Christ used to pierce the serpent. The Cross is the Father's will, the glory of the Only-Begotten, the joy of the Spirit, the pride of the angels, the guarantee of the Church." -St. John Chrysostom