Saint George Preca, "'Malta's second father in faith" after Saint Paul" (1880-1962)
Europe Day (70th anniversary of the signing of the Schuman Declaration which set in motion events that eventually led to the creation of the European Union)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 1:1-5 The Kinds of Monks
Mass: Acts 13:44-52; Resp Ps 98; Jn 14:7-14
HOLY MARY,
PRAY FOR US.
There are two sides we could take as presented in today's account from the Acts of the Apostles. On the one hand, we have almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord (Acts 13:44). On the other we have those so filled with jealousy that they respond with violent abuse and contradict Paul (Acts 13:45). We are constantly torn between the urge to build up and the urge to tear down. It seems more productive and life-giving to build up, to nurture one another, to encourage one another in the faith and pray for one another, in a sense to tend the soil around the rhubarb as in the photo so it will grow and flourish. We go forth filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and sing the Entrance Antiphon from Mass: O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful life, alleluia. I found the following from Mother Elvira Petrozzi helpful too: "The Lord has placed into our hands the opportunity to live a transparent, joyful life, but to experience this we must have the courage that comes from prayer which illuminates us, the Word of God that instructs and nourishes us, and the Church that accompanies us on our journey."
We pray with the Holy Father:
Today is the commemoration of Saint Luisa de Marillac. Let us pray for the Vincentian sisters who have been running this clinic, this hospital, for almost 100 years and have worked here, in Santa Marta, for this hospital. May the Lord bless the sisters.
SAINT LUISA DE MARILLAC,
SAINT GEORGE PRECA,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: Work in the rhubarb patch.© Gertrude Feick 2020
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