Catholic devotions for 4th August
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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 Dominic
The life of St. Dominic was one of tireless effort in the service of God. While he journeyed from place to place he prayed and preached almost uninterruptedly. His penances were of such a nature as to cause the brethren, who accidentally discovered them, to fear the effect upon his life. While his charity was boundless he never permitted it to interfere with the stern sense of duty that guided every action of his life. If he abominated heresy and laboured untiringly for its extirpation it was because he loved truth and loved the souls of those among whom he laboured. He never failed to distinguish between sin and the sinner. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, if this athlete of Christ, who had conquered himself before attempting the reformation of others, was more than once chosen to show forth the power of God. The failure of the fire at Fanjeaux to consume the dissertation he had employed against the heretics, and which was thrice thrown into the flames; the raising to life of Napoleone Orsini; the appearance of the annals in the refectory of Saint Sixtus in response to his prayers, are but a few of the supernatural happenings by which God was pleased to attest the eminent holiness of His servant. We are not surprised, therefore, that, after signing the Bull of canonization on 13 July, 1234, Gregory IX declared that he no more doubted the saintliness of Saint Dominic than he did that of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
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 Fourth Day of August
At Bologna, St. Dominic, confessor, founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, most renowned for sanctity and learning. He preserved his chastity unsullied to the end of his life, and by his great merits raised three persons from the dead. After having repressed heresies by his preaching, and instructed many in the religious and godly life, he rested in peace on the 6th of this month. His feast, however, is celebrated on this day, by decree of Pope Paul IV.
At Thessalonica, the birthday of blessed Aristarchus, disciple and inseparable companion of the Apostle St. Paul, who writes to the Colossians: "My fellow-prisoner Aristarchus salutes you." He was consecrated bishop of the Thessalonians by the same Apostle, and after long sufferings under Nero, crowned by Christ, rested in peace.
At Rome, on the Latin road, the martyrdom of blessed Tertullinus, priest and martyr, in the time of emperor Valerian. After being cruelly beaten with rods, after having his sides burned, his mouth shattered; after being stretched on the rack and scourged with whips, he completed his martyrdom by being beheaded.
At Constantinople, the holy martyr Eleutherius, of the senatorial rank, who was put to the sword for Christ, in the persecution of Maximian.
In Persia, in the time of king Sapor, the holy martyr Ia and her companions, who, with nine thousand Christian captives, underwent martyrdom after having been subjected to various torments.
At Cologne, St. Protasius, martyr.
At Verona, St. Agabius, bishop and confessor.
At Tours, St. Euphronius, bishop.
At Borne, St. Perpetua, who was baptized by the blessed Apostle Peter. She converted to the faith her son Nazarius and her husband Africanus, buried the remains of many holy martyrs, and finally went to our Lord endowed with an abundance of merit.
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)
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
Prayers for Every Day of the Week
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Monday
"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 4
LIII DE HOSPITIBUS SUSCIPIENDIS
1 Omnes supervenientes hospites tamquam Christus suscipiantur, quia ipse dicturus est: Hospes fui et suscepistis me;
2 et omnibus congruus honor exhibeatur, maxime domesticis fidei et peregrinis.
3 Ut ergo nuntiatus fuerit hospes, occurratur ei a priore vel a fratribus cum omni officio caritatis, 4 et primitus orent pariter, et sic sibi socientur in pace.
5 Quod pacis osculum non prius offeratur nisi oratione praemissa, propter illusiones diabolicas.
6 In ipsa autem salutatione omnis exhibeatur humilitas omnibus venientibus sive discedentibus hospitibus:
7 inclinato capite vel prostrato omni corpore in terra, Christus in eis adoretur qui et suscipitur.
8 Suscepti autem hospites ducantur ad orationem et postea sedeat cum eis prior aut cui iusserit ipse.
9 Legatur coram hospite lex divina ut aedificetur, et post haec omnis ei exhibeatur humanitas.
10 Ieiunium a priore frangatur propter hospitem, nisi forte praecipuus sit dies ieiunii qui non possit violari;
11 fratres autem consuetudines ieiuniorum prosequantur.
12 Aquam in manibus abbas hospitibus det;
13 pedes hospitibus omnibus tam abbas quam cuncta congregatio lavet;
14 quibus lotis, hunc versum dicant: Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui.
15 Pauperum et peregrinorum maxime susceptioni cura sollicite exhibeatur, quia in ipsis magis Christus suscipitur; nam divitum terror ipse sibi exigit honorem.
CHAPTER 53: THE RECEPTION OF GUESTS
1 All guests who present themselves are to be received as Christ, for He will say: I was a stranger and you took me in (Matt 25:35).
2 And to everyone fitting honor is to be shown, especially to those of the household of faith (Gal 6:10) and to pilgrims.
3 When, therefore, a guest is announced, he is to be met by the superior and the brothers with every ceremony of love:
4 thus first they are to pray together, and thus be united to one another in peace.
5 But this kiss of peace is not to be offered until prayer has first been said on account of the illusions of the devil.
6 And in this very salutation all humility is to be shown to all arriving or departing guests:
7 by bowing the head or prostrating the whole body on the ground Christ is to be adored in them just as he is received in them.
8 And having been received the guests are to be led to prayer, and afterwards the superior or anyone he appoints is to sit with them.
9 The divine law is to be read to the guest for his edification, and afterwards all kindness is to be shown him.
10 The superior is to break his fast for the sake of the guest, unless it happens to be a principal fast -day which cannot be broken:
11 the brothers, however, are to follow their customary fast.
12 Water is to be poured on the hands of the guests by the abbot,
13 and the feet of all guests are to be washed by the abbot and the whole community.
14 After the washing they are to say this verse: We have received your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple (Ps 48:10).
15 In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims the greatest care and solicitude should be shown, because in them Christ is more especially received: For the very awe we have of the rich insures that they receive honor.
Today's Celebration of the Mass
Also today
Blessed Cecco of Verona
The Agony and Bloody Sweat of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsamene
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
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