Contemplate the virtues of Saints of the Day

Saint of the Day

Enrich your daily spiritual life! Learn about the lives of the saints, and contemplate the particular virtues of the saint of the day.

Events for 23rd February 2021 › Saint of the Day

Saint Polycarp

Feb 23

|Recurring Event (See all)

St Swithun’s Church,

105 Waverley Road

Portsmouth,

Hampshire

PO5 2PL

United Kingdom

event/SOD-2302/

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Parish News & Updates

Newsletter: 21st February 2021 – 1st Sunday of Lent B

Newsletter: 14th February 2021 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Newsletter: 7th February 2021 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Newsletter: 31st January 2021 – 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Newsletter: 24th January 2021 – 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time B

Newsletter: 17th January 2021 – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time B

Newsletter: 10th January 2021 – The Baptism of the Lord Year B

Newsletter: 3rd January 2021 – 2nd Sunday of Christmas & The Feast of Epiphany of the Lord

Newsletter: 27th December 2020 – Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Newsletter: 20th December 2020 – 4th Sunday of Advent Year B & Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Newsletter: 6th December 2020 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

Newsletter: 29th November 2020 – 1st Sunday of Advent Year B

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Our Today's Schedule of a day is cancelled😞 For all disappointments I'm truly sorry. Hopefully - see You tomorrow🙏 Fr Marcin ... See MoreSee Less

12 hours ago

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Please dont burn yourself out Father. You do over and above what is expected. You do need to rest. Take care. God bless. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Sending best Fr Marcin 🙏

🙏💖🙏

🙏

Will miss you today Fr Marcin but pray you are having a well deserved rest 🙏 💕 even if forced to by your body if it is saying you have worked it too hard. (Your energy is that of a super hero).

Thank you father for letting us know and hope you are ok. You are as always in my 🙏🏻

Hope you are rested now. Take it easy. God bless and grant you the rest you need.

We hope you get better soon <3

😀Smile Thinking Time God Bless

Hoping you are okay. Makes 🙏

Hope you're ok 🙏

Father Marcin is OK, 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Oh dear I hope you're okay. 🙂

🙏

🙏❤🌹

❤🙏

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LECTIO DIVINA- Tuesday 23/02/2021 at 6.00am ... See MoreSee Less

14 hours ago

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❤️

🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️

❤️

LECTIO DIVINA- Tuesday 23/02/2021 at 6.00am ... See MoreSee Less

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Amen 🙏

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4/12 Day PreparationDay 4 of 33 - TUESDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2021 1. Read during: God hears our cryA Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans:I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it,but sin which dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I donot want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. …So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are childrenof God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 7:15-20; 8:12-17)From Pope Benedict XVI Urbi et Orbi Christmas Message 2011:This is the great evil, the great sin, from which we human beings cannot save ourselves unless we rely on God’s help, unless we cry out to him: “Veni ad salvandum nos! – Come to save us!”The very fact that we cry to heaven in this way already sets us aright; it makes us true to ourselves: we are in fact those who cried out to God and were saved (cf. Esth [LXX] 10:3ff.). God is the Saviour; we are those who are in peril. He is the physician; we are the infirm. To realize this is the first step towards salvation, towards emerging from the maze in which we have been locked by our pride. To lift our eyes to heaven, to stretch out our hands and call for help is our means of escape, provided that there is Someone who hears us and can come to our assistance. Jesus Christ is the proof that God has heard our cry. And not only this! God’s love for us is so strong that he cannot remain aloof; he comes out of himself to enter into our midst and to share fully in our human condition (cf. Ex 3:7-12). The answer to our cry which God gave in Jesus infinitely transcends our expectations, achieving a solidarity which cannot be human alone, but divine. Only the God who is love, and the love which is God, could choose to save us in thisway, which is certainly the lengthiest way, yet the way which respects the truth about him and about us: the way of reconciliation, dialogue and cooperation.Reflection:Do I recognize that I cannot save myself? Do I believe that God will always hear my cry? Can I see that Jesus Himself is the answer to my cry, that He is God who has come close to me and Hewill never abandon me. He is my Savior. We are crying for a home, crying to belong, crying for the things we need to grow, crying tomake sense of the pain and find support, crying for others. When we cry out, Mary responds to us and brings us into her arms and even into that tighter, safer more beautiful embrace in herwomb. In coming to share our human condition, Jesus made her womb the perfect place for all our needs to met and also the place that we can always find Him, who is always the Son ofMary.2. Pray During a day:St. Louis De Montfort's Prayer to MaryHail Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father!Hail Mary, admirable Mother of the Son! Hail Mary,faithful spouse of the Holy Ghost! Hail Mary, my dearMother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign!Hail my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul! Thouart all mine by mercy, and I am all thine by justice.But I am not yet sufficiently thine. I now give myselfwholly to thee without keeping anything back formyself or others. If thou still seest in me anythingwhich does not belong to thee, I beseech thee totake it and to make thyself the absolute Mistress ofall that is mine. Destroy in me all that may bedispleasing to God, root it up and bring it to nought;place and cultivate in me everything that is pleasingto thee.May the light of thy faith dispel the darkness of mymind; may thy profound humility take the place of mypride; may thy sublime contemplation check thedistractions of my wandering imagination; may thycontinuous sight of God fill my memory with Hispresence; may the burning love of thy heart inflamethe lukewarmness of mine; may thy virtues take theplace of my sins; may thy merits be my onlyadornment in the sight of God and make up for allthat is wanting in me. Finally, dearly beloved Mother,grant, if it be possible, that I may have no other spiritbut thine to know Jesus and His divine will; that Imay have no other soul but thine to praise andglorify the Lord; that I may have no other heart butthine to love God with a love as pure and ardent asthine I do not ask thee for visions, revelations,sensible devotion or spiritual pleasures. It is thyprivilege to see God clearly; it is thy privilege toenjoy heavenly bliss; it is thy privilege to triumphgloriously in Heaven at the right hand of thy Son andto hold absolute sway over angels, men anddemons; it is thy privilege to dispose of all the gifts ofGod, just as thou willest.Such is, O heavenly Mary, the "best part," which theLord has given thee and which shall never be takenaway from thee-and this thought fills my heart withjoy. As for my part here below, I wish for no otherthan that which was thine: to believe sincerelywithout spiritual pleasures; to suffer joyfully withouthuman consolation; to die continually to myselfwithout respite; and to work zealously andunselfishly for thee until death as the humblest of thyservants. The only grace I beg thee to obtain for meis that every day and every moment of my life I maysay: Amen, so be it's all that thou didst do while onearth; Amen, so be it's all that thou art now doing inHeaven; Amen, so be it-to all that thou art doing inmy soul, so that thou alone mayest fully glorify Jesusin me for time and eternity. Amen. 3. Prayer - Veni Creator & Ave Maris Stella at 6.00amCome, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,and in our souls take up Thy rest;come with Thy grace and heavenly aidto fill the hearts which Thou hast made.O comforter, to Thee we cry,O heavenly gift of God Most High,O fount of life and fire of love,and sweet anointing from above.Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;Thou, finger of God's hand we own;Thou, promise of the Father,Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.Kindle our sense from above,and make our hearts o'erflow with love;with patience firm and virtue highthe weakness of our flesh supply.Far from us drive the foe we dread,and grant us Thy peace instead;so shall we not, with Thee for guide,turn from the path of life aside.Oh, may Thy grace on us bestowthe Father and the Son to know;and Thee, through endless times confessed,of both the eternal Spirit blest.Now to the Father and the Son,Who rose from death, be glory given,with Thou, O Holy Comforter,henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.Ave Maris StellaHail, O Star of the ocean,God's own Mother blest,ever sinless Virgin,gate of heav'nly rest. Taking that sweet Ave,which from Gabriel came,peace confirm within us,changing Eve's name.Break the sinners' fetters,make our blindness day,Chase all evils from us,for all blessings pray.Show thyself a Mother,may the Word divineborn for us thine Infanthear our prayers through thine.Virgin all excelling,mildest of the mild,free from guilt preserve usmeek and undefiled.Keep our life all spotless,make our way securetill we find in Jesus,joy for evermore.Praise to God the Father,honor to the Son,in the Holy Spirit,be the glory one. Amen.3. Magnificat, and Glory Be- during HOUR of MERCY at 3.00pmMagnificatMy soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation to generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.He hath put down the mighty from their seat; and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. Amen.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.Examine your conscience, pray, practice renouncement of your own will; mortification, purity of heart. This purity is the indispensable condition for contemplating God in heaven, to see Him on earth and to know Him by the light of faith. The first part of the preparation should be employed in casting off the spirit of the world which is contrary to that of Jesus Christ. The spirit of the world consists essentially in the denial of the supreme dominion of God; a denial which is manifested in practice by sin and disobedience; thus it is principally opposed to the spirit of Christ,which is also that of Mary. ... See MoreSee Less

17 hours ago

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LECTIO DIVINA (live streaming at 6.00am)Tuesday, February 22, 2021The meaning of prayer, almsgiving and fastingThe way to spend the time of Lent wellCome, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,and in our souls take up Thy rest;come with Thy grace and heavenly aidto fill the hearts which Thou hast made.O comforter, to Thee we cry,O heavenly gift of God Most High,O fount of life and fire of love,and sweet anointing from above.Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;Thou, finger of God's hand we own;Thou, promise of the Father,Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.Kindle our sense from above,and make our hearts o'erflow with love;with patience firm and virtue highthe weakness of our flesh supply.Far from us drive the foe we dread,and grant us Thy peace instead;so shall we not, with Thee for guide,turn from the path of life aside.Oh, may Thy grace on us bestowthe Father and the Son to know;and Thee, through endless times confessed,of both the eternal Spirit blest.Now to the Father and the Son,Who rose from death, be glory given,with Thou, O Holy Comforter,henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.Opening prayerLord God,you speak your mighty word to us, but we cannot hear itunless it stirs our livesand is spoken in human terms.Keep speaking your word to us, Lord, and open our hearts to it,that it may bear fruit in us when we do your willand carry out what we are sent to do.We ask you this through your living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord.Psalm 34I will bless the LORD at all timesHis praise will always be on my lipsMy soul glories in YahwehLet the humble hear and rejoiceO, magnify the LORD with meLet us praise His name togetherI sought the LORD, He answered meDelivered me from all my fearsHis saints will shine and not be shamedThis poor man cried, was saved from his trialsThe angel of the LORD surrounds His saints and delivers themO, taste and see that He is goodBlessed is he who trusts in HimO, taste and see that He is goodHe is good, good to meFear the LORD, O you His saints'Cause those who fear Him, they have no wantYoung lions suffer hungerBut those who seek Him lack no good thingCome, O children, listen to meI'll counsel you in the fear of YahwehWhich one of you wants to live a lifeThat's rich and long and full of good?Keep your tongue from evil wordsHold back your lips from speaking liesDepart from evil and do goodSeek peace and go after itO, taste and see that He is goodBlessed is he who trusts in HimO, taste and see that He is goodHe is good, good to meThe eyes of the LORD are on the righteousAnd His ears listen to their cryThe face of the LORD is against the wickedTheir legacy will fade awayWhen the saints cry out, the LORD hearsHe saves them out of all their trialsHe's near to the brokenheartedAnd saves the crushed in spiritMany are the afflictions of His faithful onesBut the LORD delivers them out of all, He preserves their bonesNot even one is brokenBut sin will slay the wicked onesThose who hate the saints will be condemnedThe LORD redeems His servants' soulsAnd none of them will be condemnedO, taste and see that He is goodBlessed is he who trusts in HimO, taste and see that He is goodHe is good, good to meHe is good, good to meGospel Reading - Matthew 6: 7-15'In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.So you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. And do not put us to the test, but save us from the Evil One. 'Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Fatherwill not forgive your failings either.A moment of prayerful silence so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life. Reflection...Personal questions• Jesus prayer says “forgive our debts”. In some countries it is translated as “forgive our offenses”. What is easier to forgive, the offenses or to forgive the debts?• Christian nations of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe and USA) pray every day: “Forgive our debts as we forgive those who are in debt with us!” But they do not forgive the external debt of poor countries of the Third World. How can we explain this terrible contradiction, source of impoverishment of millions of persons?Ave Maris StellaHail, O Star of the ocean,God's own Mother blest,ever sinless Virgin,gate of heav'nly rest. Taking that sweet Ave,which from Gabriel came,peace confirm within us,changing Eve's name.Break the sinners' fetters,make our blindness day,Chase all evils from us,for all blessings pray.Show thyself a Mother,may the Word divineborn for us thine Infanthear our prayers through thine.Virgin all excelling,mildest of the mild,free from guilt preserve usmeek and undefiled.Keep our life all spotless,make our way securetill we find in Jesus,joy for evermore.Praise to God the Father,honor to the Son,in the Holy Spirit,be the glory one. Amen.Concluding PrayerProclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together. I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears. (Ps 34: 3-4) ... See MoreSee Less

17 hours ago

Events for 23rd February 2021 › Saint of the Day

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