Sixth Week in Ordinary Time/Ash Wednesday and the days following

February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family

World Day of the Sick

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office - Ch 14 The Celebration of Vigils on the Anniversary of Saints 

In whose spirit is no guile.

HOLY FAMILY, OUR SUPPORT IN LIFE AND OUR HOPE IN DEATH,

MARY, MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God ...

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

(1 Cor 10:31, 11:1)

Welcome, faithful readers, to the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time that takes us to Ash Wednesday and the days following, all leading to the First Sunday of Lent, still in the month of February dedicated to the Holy Family. The words from Saint Paul above are simply awesome. As Saint Benedict tells us too, in Chapter 57 of the Holy Rule, "The Artisans of the Monastery," whatever we do, we do "so that in all things God may be glorified" (1 Pet 4:11/RB 57:9). Folks, let's give it up for the Lord now, and during the upcoming holy season of Lent. So that in all things God may be glorified, let us refuse to indulge evil habits, devote ourselves to prayer with tears, read one book from cover to cover, look inside our heart with honesty and seek forgiveness, and deny ourselves some food, drink, needless talking and idle jesting. Just say "no" to idle chit-chat. We do these things and look forward to holy Easter with joy (see RB 49. The Observance of Lent). If you are going to boast, then boast in the Lord. All other boasting just might make us look ridiculous. Do everything in word and deed, then, for the glory of God alone. For this, we give God the praise.

And as I write on Super Bowl Sunday, our voices for the week begin with a member of the faithful who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Mr. Butler certainly has his priorities in order. By the way, do any of you remember the All-Pro fullback Christian Emeka Okoye, "the Nigerian Nightmare," who played for the Chiefs in the late 80s and early 90s? He was awesome too; he barreled through just about everyone, like a juggernaut. Go Chiefs. 😎. I could go on now forever on the glory days of the 70s too, with Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page of the Vikings, Kenny Stabler and Fred Biletnikoff of the Oakland Raiders, "Sweetness" Walter Payton and the Chicago Bears, Ken Anderson and the Bengals ... 

Dear Lord, guide all of us as we respond to the universal call to holiness and give You the glory.

I want to be a saint. And that's the most important thing. And that's why I'm here on earth.

(Mr. Harrison Butler, Kansas City Chiefs field goal kicker)

Blessed Pier also had his priorities in order. And he was no slouch when it came to athletics. In fact, Pier was all-around awesome. May he intercede for us. 

Learn to be stronger in spirit than in your muscles. 

If you are, you will be real apostles of faith in the Lord.

(Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, 1901-1925)

Preparation for Lent begins with desire. We exist to desire God. As Saint Augustine says, 'My heart is restless until it rests in Thee.' In this is the preparation for Lent: touching a desire for God that is deep down in the heart. Desire is like a flame, it starts small and it grows. Lent should fan our desire for God into a bonfire ...

(Servant of God Catherine de Heuck Doherty, 1896-1985)

Jesus is in the fire in the very center of our souls ever burning. Yet we are cold because we do not stay by it. Our look of love at Him draws back a look of love on us, and His divine love enkindles that fire of love in us which makes us remember Him continually.

(Mother Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

Lord, here are my hands.

Place in them what you will,

Take from them what you will,

Lead me where'er you will,

In everything-your will be done.

(Blessed Eduard Mueller, 1911-1943)

Prayer of Generosity

Lord teach me to be generous.

Teach me to serve you as You deserve.

To give and not count the cost.

To fight and not to heed the wounds.

To toil and not to seek to rest.

To labor and not to seek reward,

Except that of knowing I do Your will.

(Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556)

From another excellent novel with inspiration to keep going, no matter what ...

You know, when I was a kid back in Jamaica, my great-gramma used to say she was 'old but not cold.' She lived to her late nineties. To her last days, she was in the kitchen, baking raisin buns for us kids. She liked to keep busy, too.

(Terry to Tova in S. van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel, Ecco 2022, p. 316)

OUR LADY OF LOURDES,

SAINT GOBNAIT, 

SAINT JULIAN THE HOSPITALLER,

SAINT CATHERINE DE RICCI,

BLESSED REGINALD OF ORLEANS, OP,

SAINT METHODIUS,

SAINT CYRIL,

SAINT VALENTINE,

21 COPTIC MARTYRS OF LIBYA,

SAINT CLAUDE LA COLOMBIERE,

BLESSED NICHOLAS OF PAGLIA, OP,

SAINT ONESIMUS,

BLESSED JORDAN OF SAXONY,

THE SEVEN HOLY PROPHETS OF THE SERVITE ORDER,

SAINT FINTAN OF CLONENAGH,

BLESSED WILLIAM RICHARDSON,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. In other years, we would commemorate Our Lady of Lourdes. When was the last time you took a look at Pope Saint John II and his Apostolic Letter Salvifici doloris Salvific suffering, given February 11, 1984, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. One paragraph at a time. Our Lady of Lourdes, please cover us in your protective veil.   

Today's photo: Exult, all you upright of heart.

© Gertrude Feick 2024