St. Augustine of Hippo

St Augustine has always been one of my favorites saints! I thought it might be nice to share a few of his prayers and quotes with you!

Lord Jesus, Let Me Know Myself

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You,
And desire nothing save only You.
Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of You.
Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You.
Let me die to myself and live in You.
Let me accept whatever happens as from You.
Let me banish self and follow You,
And ever desire to follow You.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You,
That I may deserve to be defended by You.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear You,
And let me be among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You.
Let me cling to nothing save only to You,
And let me be poor because of You.
Look upon me, that I may love You.
Call me that I may see You,
And for ever enjoy You. Amen.

Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop, Writer, Doctor

Prayer to Seek God Continually

O Lord my God, I believe in you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Insofar as I can, insofar as you have given me the power, I have sought you. I became weary and I loabored.

O Lord my God, my sole hope, help me to believe and never ro cease seeking you. Grant that I may always and ardently seek out your countenance. Give me the strength to seek you, for you help me to find you and you have more and more given me the hope of finding you.

Here I am before you with my firmness and my infirmity. Preserve the first and heal the second.

Here I am before you with my stregnth and my ignorance. Where you have opened the door to me, welcome me at the entrance; where you have closed the door to me, open to my cry; enable me to remember you, to understand you, and to love you. Amen.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Quotes

God has no need of your money, but the poor have. You give it to the poor, and God receives it.

The love of worldly possessions is a sort of bird line, which entangles the soul, and prevents it flying to God.

Conquer yourself and the world lies at your feet.

God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding admonishes you do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and aids you that you may be able.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Dear St. Augustine,
help me to love God as you do, to obey him as you do, to know him as you do. Help me to follow your wonderful example. I wish to be like you!

St. Augustine's Site!

And Some More Strange and Interesting Facts

And today we have a special addition on....BUGS!!! =)

• A butterfly has to have a body temperature greater than 86 degrees to be able to fly.
• A cockroach can change directions up to 25 times in a second.
• A colony of bees have to fly almost fifty-five thousand miles and tap two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
• A flea can jump 150 times its size. That is the same as a person able to jump up 1,000 feet in the air.
• A butterfly's taste sensors are located below their feet.
• A house fly's feet are 10 million times more sensitive than a human tongue.
• A scorpion can have up to 12 eyes.
• Bees can communicate with other bees by dancing. Their dance can alert other bees as to which direction and the distance nectar and pollen is located.
• A butterfly can see the colors red, green, and yellow.
• Cricket chirping can tell the temperature outside. Counting how many times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds and then adding 40 to that number will approximately tell you what the temperature is in Fahrenheit.
• For every human in the world there are one million ants.
• In a lifetime, on average a honey bee produces 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey.
• Lady Bugs really are not bugs. They are actually beetles and their correct name is The Ladybird Beetle.
• Mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue more than any other color.
• And Finally..........Fried spiders taste like nuts. (Blahhhh)
  

Phew, this one is a long list!! :-D Heheh!

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And Finally.......

More interesting and strange facts!

• Cows sweat through their noses.
• Deer sleep only 5 minutes a day.
• Dolphins can look in different directions with each eye. They can sleep with one eye open.
• Coffee was first known in Europe as Arabian Wine.
• Dogs can't decipher size. That's why little dogs are mean.

Sorry it had been sooo long, I ran out of facts a long time ago, so I had to search for these! Hahaha! =)


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The Beatiful, Most Holy, Eucharist

God in his omnipotence could not give more, in His wisdom He knew not how to give more, in His riches He had not more to give, than the Eucharist.

- St Augustine

"It is there in His Eucharist that He says to me: 'I thirst, thirst for your love, your sacrifices, your sufferings. I thirst for your happiness, for it was to save you that I came into the world, that I suffered and died on the Cross, and in order to console and strengthen you I left you the Eucharist. So you have there all my life, all my tenderness.'"

- Mother Mary of Jesus, the Foundress of the Sisters of Marie Reparatrice

"When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence."

- St. Francis de Sales

"Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying: 'This is My Body.' No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it."

- St. Augustine

"Do grant, oh my God, that when my lips approach Yours to kiss You, I may taste the gall that was given to You; when my shoulders lean against Yours, make me feel Your scourging; when my flesh is united with Yours, in the Holy Eucharist, make me feel Your passion; when my head comes near Yours, make me feel Your thorns; when my heart is close to Yours, make me feel Your spear."
- St. Gemma Galgani

"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you - for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart...don't listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love...
"Receive Communion often, very often...there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart for nothing..."
"The guest of our soul knows our misery; He comes to find an empty tent within us - that is all He asks."
- St. Therese of Lisieux

"And just as He appeared before the holy Apostles in true flesh, so now He has us see Him in the Sacred Bread. Looking at Him with the eyes of their flesh, they saw only His Flesh, but regarding Him with the eyes of the spirit, they believed that He was God. In like manner, as we see bread and wine with our bodily eyes, let us see and believe firmly that it is His Most Holy Body and Blood, True and Living.
For in this way our Lord is ever present among those who believe in him, according to what He said: "Behold, I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world." (Mt. 28, 20)
- St. Francis of Assisi

"What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation"

"...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood."

- St. Francis of Assisi

Our Father THY WILL BE DONE A Meditation by St. Peter Julian Eymard

Our Father Who are in Heaven

in the heaven of the Eucharist,
to You Who are seated on the throne of grace and love,
be benediction, and honor, and power and glory
for ever and ever!

Hallowed be Your Name

first in ourselves, through the spirit of
Your humility, obedience, and charity.
May we in all humility and zeal
make You known, loved, and adored by all men
in the Holy Eucharist,

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Eucharistic kingdom.
Rule Thou alone forever over us
for Your greater glory
through the power of Your love,
the triumph of Your virtues,
and the grace of a Eucharistic vocation
in my state as a layman.
Grant us the grace and mission of Your holy love
so that we may be able to effectively extend
Your Eucharistic kingdom everywhere
and realize the desire you expressed:
‘I have come to cast fire on the earth;
and what would I, but that it be kindled?’
Oh! that we might be the incendiaries of this heavenly fire!

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven

Grant us the grace to find all our joy
in wanting You alone,
in desiring You alone,
and in thinking of You alone.
Grant that by denying of ourselves always
and in all things,
we may find light and life
in obeying Your good, acceptable and perfect Will.
I will what You will.
I will it because You will it.
I will it as You will it.
I will it as long as You will it.
Perish our thoughts and desires
if they are not purely from You, for You and in You.

Give us this day our daily bread

You are our Eucharistic Lord
and You alone will be our food and clothing,
our riches and glory,
our remedy in illness,
and our protection against all evil.
You will be all things to us.

And forgive us our trespasses

Forgive me Jesus, for I am sorry for all my sins
just as they stand in your eyes.

As we forgive those who trespass against us

For anyone who has offended us in any way,
with our whole heart we forgive them
and desire for them the gifts of Your love.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

Deliver us Jesus, from the demon of pride,
impurity, discord and complacency.
Deliver us from the cares and worries of life
so that with a pure heart and a free mind
we may joyfully spend our life
and devote all that we are and all that we have
in the service of our Eucharistic Lord.

Amen.

In You, O Lord Jesus, have I hoped;
let me not be confounded forever.
You alone are good.
You alone are powerful.
You alone are eternal.
To You alone be honor and glory,
love and thanksgiving forever and ever.

A link: The Real Presence

Letters from Long Ago

Yesterday, I walked into the dining room and found two letters scattered on the floor, an envelope lying near by them. I picked up one of the letters. It was written on pretty, flowery paper, in childish cursive. It was address to "Kings" Hmm, I thought, who are the "Kings"? But as I read it it started to make sense. After I was done reading that one I picked up the next letter lying on the floor. It was addressed to "Three Kings" But this one was typed and printed out on blank printing paper. After reading that one I looked around for more --after all, there had to be more then 2. And there was. I found two more letters address to the Three Kings. These last two were written in my mother's handwriting, but dictated by my other siblings. The envelope is addressed to :

"The Three Kings
Virtue St. Heaven"

The stamp was a square, in which was written, "No postage needed if Child of God."

Here I shall write what these letters say (I shall write them with the exact same punctuation and spelling as the originals):

From oldest, to youngest;

(The first letter I found, written in cursive)

Dear Kings,

Please do not mind the messy writing, my fingers are still sore.

How have you been? How is the baby Jesus? How is Father B. How is St. Anthony? How is Mr. D.

I would like to make a list of things I would like, to make your job easyer.
That is, if I have been a good girl. I would like movie money, a watch, or a porcelin doll, or the movie
The new one Emma, or Hair stuff or, socks, That is all I can think of, if you can't get me anything that is on this list anything you get me I'm sure I'll love.

Love,
Jenny

Jenny is now 22, and she's going to be married soon!


(The second letter I found, typed.)


Dear Three Kings,

Hello! How are you doing? I hope you are fine! How are the politics in Heaven going?Any new policies? How am I doing?!?! Am I headed in the right direction? I sincerely hope I am!!! Anyway On to the trivial things! My poor suggestions are as follows:


I would like a pair or two of slipper socks, the Robo Master lego set, or the Robo Stalker lego set. Preferably the Robo Master set. I would also like a cap or dart gun ( You can get them at the dollar store!) If you can not get any of these suggestions, Then I would like some more Tolkien books. So much for suggestions, I hope you have a good time!

Cordially Yours Jonathan

Jonathan E. G.

(And at the bottom of this letter is written in handwriting, "P.S. Please write back!!!!!")


Jonathan is 21 now, and in College!


(Third letter I found, dictated my brother Miguel, written by my Mum)


Dear 3 Kings


How are you doing? My father & my mother said I should make a list of ideas for you guys to pick a gift from.

Any action figure will do. Here is my lego list: Do you think maybe I should get some Robo Force, my brother really likes them. I would like some Explorers sets (stingrays) That's it for lego for now. Maybe a few pens & pencils will do and I'm almost out of my 1st bottle of scope. Bye for now.


Love Miguel

P.S. Just about anything will do.


Miguel's now 19!


(Fourth letter I found, written by my mum, dictated by Gabriela)


Dear Three Kings,

How are you doing? How is baby Jesus? What do your camels like to eat? I have been good this year. My daddy said I should make a list of presents for you to pick from. I would like:

Some ballet slippers

a leotard (and tootoo in pink)

May you please pray for me

I would like a calandar -- Christmas Tree one with stickers to hang on the window.

A clock

Some alphabet books

A toy box


Bye bye. I have to eat my candy cane, wash my face and hands, and help clean.


Love Gabriela

P.S. Please kiss baby Jesus and say hi for me.


Gabriela is 15 and in 10th grade!!

I hope you enjoyed these great finds as much as I did! :)

My, my, my!

Well. I haven't posted for a while!

I've started going to Confirmation classes at my church on Sundays! They're pretty interesting. I've been confirmed already, when I was five! but I just wanted to go and listen and stuff. I'm keepin' it fresh! :P

Youth Group is great! We meet every other Saturdays -- 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays. 5th Saturdays are going to be best, because on those days the youth group does fun things like go ice skating and stuff! Too bad there aren't many fifths in a year! We're reading this book called a Philadelphia Catholic in King James’s Court. It's very interesting. I'm on the second chapter now. Also, we're helping out with this big, fun thing our Church is doing on the 28th for Halloween! It's going to be so much fun! There'll be bobbing for apples, treasure hunts, candy, a cake walk, and a lot of other stuff! I'm dressing up as Charlie Chaplin! (I know, I know, I'm kinda old to still be dressing up, but heck! It's fun! :) Actually, come to think of it...I think this might actually be the first time I've ever dress up! Whoa!

School's getting on...this week hasn't been too great. I hate science! Blaaah. Oh well.

Oh yeah! Tomorrow I'm going to this great thing called Eucharistic Congress Teen Track. We're going to hear speakers and there'll be a procession, and afterwards there'll be Mass! I think it's going to be a lot of fun! I have a new sweater to wear to it. I had to take out a loan to buy it though...heehee! I'm working on paying you back, Mummy!

Well, I'm just plain starving now.

I'm pen-paling with a girl named Kateri! We're also emailing. It's a whole lot of fun! I love writing letters! Also, her cousin Lucia and I have started emailing too! Just so you know, her name is pronounced Loo-see-ah, (She was very particular on that :) She's really funny and neat to email with!

Well, as you can see my life's just great right now! Even with a little problems (ahem....science). And now I shall go eat. :-D