Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saints:Pope Saint John I, Martyr (-526)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 3:7-13 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: Acts 15:1-6; Resp Ps 122; Jn 15:1-8

Within your gates, O Jerusalem.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Bear much fruit and become my disciples.

(Jn 15:8)

I am the vine, Jesus tells us, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Nothing. Cling to the Vine, for nourishment, for strength, for comfort. Without Him we do nothing. "By God's grace I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10). United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

The Lord calls Himself the vine and those united to Him the branches in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with Him, and how important it is for us to remain in His love. By receiving the Holy Spirit, who is bond of union between us and Christ our Savior, those who are joined to Him, as branches are to a vine, share in His own nature ...

From Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but the fruit of a new life founded upon our faith in Him and our love for Him ... 

By bestowing on them the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the only begotten Son of the Father, gives Christians a certain kinship with Himself and with God the Father because they have been united to Him by faith and by determination to do His will in all things. He helps them to grow in love and reverence for God, and teaches them to discern right from wrong and to act with integrity.

(From a commentary on the Gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, in Office of Readings, Fifth Week of Easter, Tuesday).

POPE SAINT JOHN I,

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

SAINT MARIE RIVIER,

SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,

SAINT CESAR DE BUS,

SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,

SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,

SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,

SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Give thanks to the name of the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 3:1-6 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: Acts 14:19-28; Resp Ps 145; Jn 14:27-31a

Let your faithful ones bless you.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Let not your hearts be troubled; neither let them be afraid.

(Jn 14:27)

There is nothing like a considered stoned to death man who gets up and gets busy. So goes our account from the Acts of the Apostles. The crowds, who had enough of Paul, stone him and drag him out of the city. Dead? I don't think so. The disciples gather around Paul; he gets up. The next day he and Barnabas leave for Derbe. Among other things, they make a considerable number of disciples, then move on to strengthen the spirits of other disciples and exhort them to persevere in the faith. As if they need to say: "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). No kidding. Paul and Barnabas could certainly attest to that. Not much could stop them though. They continue to travel here and there, appoint others to help them, pray and fast, proclaim the word, then catch a boat to Antioch. It must have been quite a lively account they gave the Church in Antioch, as they reported what God had done with them, and done with the Gentiles too. Now for a little well-deserved rest. Amen. No matter what, we keep going, united in faith and prayer. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you (Jn 14:27), says the Lord.

We should make each day a resume for our whole life by filling it with prayer, work, and charity.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 163) 

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

SAINT MARIE RIVIER,

SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,

SAINT CESAR DE BUS,

SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,

SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,

SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,

SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: One of my favorites. Let your works give you thanks, O Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Happy 95th birthday to Pope Benedict XVI (b. 1927). Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Geburtstag. Auguri!

Saints: Saint Simon Stock (c.1165-1265); Saint Brendan (486-578); Saint John Stone (?-1539)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:33-40 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: Acts 14:5-18; Resp Ps 115; Jn 14:21-26

Our God is in heaven.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Welcome to a Monday about half-way through May, the Month of Mary. Mary, Virgin most powerful, pray for us. Some words from Jesus include, Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and reveal myself to him (Jn 14:23). Let's be about loving Jesus with our whole heart, our whole soul and all our strength - today. Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is truly risen. 

Silence is sometimes an act of energy, and smiling, too.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 166)

In addition to the saints for each day, we will invoke the ten newly canonized all week long. Mary, Queen of all saints, pray for us.

SAINT SIMON STOCK,

SAINT BRENDAN,

SAINT JOHN STONE,

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

SAINT MARIE RIVIER,

SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,

SAINT CESAR DE BUS,

SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,

SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,

SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,

SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This awesome shot is yet another contribution from a recent visitor and faithful reader. Heaven is the heaven of the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

In other years: Saint Isidore the Farmer, Patron of Madrid (1070-1130); Saint Carthage (c.555-637); Blessed Giles of Vaozela OP (c.1184-1265); Blessed Andrew Abellon OP (1375-1450) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:30-32 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: Acts 14:21-27; Resp Ps 145; Rev 21:1-5a; Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35

Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race.

(Rev 21:5)

As of today, we have ten newly formally canonized saints to intercede for us. We invoke them below. They cheer us on to glory. God is praised!

Almost enough for this week is to embrace Jesus' words: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another (Jn 13:34). Love is a mark of a disciple of Jesus as the He says: This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13:35). Jesus loved us first. Let's be about loving Him and loving one another then with all the joy and suffering love brings, including what we hear in our account from the Acts of the Apostles. There, Paul and Barnabas tell us that "it is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). So be it as Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur notes:

Suffering works mysteriously, first in ourselves by a kind of inner renewal, and also in others, perhaps far away, without ever knowing here on earth what we are accomplishing by it.

Suffering is an act. Christ on the Cross has perhaps done more for humanity than Christ speaking and acting in Galilee or Jerusalem. Suffering creates life; it transforms all it touches, all it strikes.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, pp. 164-165)

We join Paul and Barnabas then and exhort one another to persevere in the faith (Acts 14:22). We have so many in the communion of saints to help us. Those formally recognized along with the saints "next door" (Pope Francis, Gaudete et exsultate, 6-9), in heaven and on earth, inspire us to keep going.

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

SAINT MARIE RIVIER,

SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,

SAINT CESAR DE BUS,

SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,

SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,

SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,

SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,

SAINT ISIDORE THE FARMER,

SAINT CARTHAGE,

BLESSED GILES OF VAOZELA,

BLESSED ANDREW ABELLON,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This lush vanilla leaf makes for a peaceful scene. From faithful reader, Linda, on a walk at Redwoods. Thank you. Let your faithful ones praise you.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:23-29 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Resp Ps 113; Jn 15:9-17

Above the heavens is His glory.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

You, Lord, know the hearts of all.

(Acts 1:24)

On this Feast of Saint Matthias, we find ourselves back in Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles, where one of the first tasks at hand for the Apostles is to find a successor for poor Judas. This was not without first devoting themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers (Acts 1:14). First things first. There is a job description for the successor, namely, that it was necessary that he accompanied the Eleven the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among them, from the baptism of John on, up to and including witnessing to the Lord's resurrection (Acts 1:22). They proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias (Acts 1:23). They prayed, cast lots, and left the decision to the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:24). As it should be. Would be so trustworthy and turn matters over to the Holy Spirit. Not my will, but yours be done (Lk 22:42). We ask for the grace we need to keep Jesus' commandments: If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments (Jn 15:10).

Being a follower of Christ means becoming conformed to Him who became a servant even to giving Himself on the Cross. Christ dwells by faith in the heart of the believer, and thus the disciple is conformed to the Lord. This is the effect of grace, of the active presence of the Holy Spirit in us.

(Pope Saint John Paul II, Veritatis splendor Splendor of Truth, 21)

Not to accept everything, but to understand everything; not to approve of everything, but to forgive everything; not to adopt everything, but to search for the grain of truth that is contained in everything.

To repulse no idea and no good will, however awkward or feeble.

To love souls as Jesus Christ loved them, unto suffering, unto death.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 156)

SAINT MATTHIAS, 

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From dear Maddy on foot from the Columbia River Gorge to Rowena Crest, in the Beaver State of Oregon. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saint: Our Lady of Fatima; Saint Erconwald (-693); Blessed Imelda Lambertini OP (c.1321-1333)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 1:16-22 Qualities of the Abbot 

Mass: Acts 13:26-33; Resp Ps 2; Jn 14:1-6

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before Him.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, CORNERSTONE OF FAMILIES,

PRAY FOR US.

For starters on this Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, remembering too that we are still in the Year of the Family, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has invited the faithful to unite in a Day of Fasting and Praying the Rosary. There are several prayer intentions that can be found on the USCCB website, including these two:

For our nation, for the integrity of our judicial system, and that all branches of government be dedicated to seeking the common good and protecting the dignity and rights of the human person, from conception to natural death.

For Our Blessed Mother's intercession and guidance as the Church continues to walk with mothers and families in need, and continues to promote alternatives to abortion, and create a culture of life.

Secondly, Jesus offers support and solace in His loving heart: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me (Jn 14:1). I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me (Jn 14:6), says the Lord. United in faith and prayer, with trust and hope, we follow Jesus to the Father.

The ardent need for justice, this benevolent flame within, this deep love for suffering and groaning humanity, all this is and can only be an unconscious turning toward this infinite Love and infinite Justice, toward this supreme Goodness that is God.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, pp. 151-152) 

OUR LADY OF FATIMA,

VENERABLE JEROME LEJEUNE,

SERVANT OF GOD ELISABETH LESEUR,

SAINT ERCONWALD,

BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This one makes me dizzy 😎 A recent guest and faithful reader captured this "look from reclining position" on our property. It is certainly cause for rejoicing before Him. With trembling rejoice!

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saints: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Early Christian Martyrs; Saint Pancras, Roman Martyr; Blessed Jane of Portugal OP (1452-1490)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:11-15 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: Acts 13:13-25; Resp Ps 89; Jn 13:16-20

The favors of the Lord I will sing forever.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, He said to them:

Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than then the one who sent him.

(Jn 13:16)

How might you wash another's feet today? 

To think is excellent;

to pray is better;

to love is everything.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 174)

SAINTS NEREUS AND ACHILLES,

SAINT PANCRAS,

BLESSED HAND OF PORTUGAL,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Vielen herzlichen Dank, Schwester Daniela, aus der Schweiz. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022