Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 49 The Observance of Lent
Mass: Jer 26:1-9; Resp Ps 69; Mt 13:54-58

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop, doctor (380-450)
World Day Against Trafficking Against Persons

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 48:22-25
Mass: Jer 18:1-6; Resp 146; Mt 13:47-53

God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.

Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, hosts of the Lord

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 48:10-21
Mass: 1 Jn 4:7-16; Resp Ps 34; or Jer 15:10, 16-21; Resp Ps 59; Jn 11:19-27 or Lk 10:38-42

Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 48:1-9 The Daily Manual Labor
Mass: Jer 14:17-22; Resp Ps 79; Mt 13:36-43

Is it not you alone, O Lord, our God, to whom we look?

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Blessed Titus Brandsma (1881-1942)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 47 Announcing the Hours for the Work of God
Mass: Jer 13:1-11; Resp Ps (Dt 32); Mt 13:31-35

Bless the Lord, my soul, and never forget all his benefits.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In other years: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 46 Faults Committed in Other Matters
Mass: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12; Resp Ps 119; Rm 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52

The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 45 Mistakes in the Oratory
Mass: 2 Cor 4:7-15; Resp Ps 126; Mt 20:20-28

The Lord has done great things for us, we are glad indeed.

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Charbel Makhlouf (1828-1898)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 44 Satisfaction by the Excommunicated
Mass: Jer 3:14-17; Resp Ps (Jer 31); Mt 13:18-23

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Bridget of Sweden, Co-Patroness of Europe (1303-1373)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 43:13-19
Mass: Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; Resp Ps 36; Mt 13:10-17

With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 43:1-12 Tardiness at the Work of God or at Table
Mass: Song of Songs 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17; Resp Ps 63; Jn 20:1-12, 11-18

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Laurence of Brindisi, priest, doctor (1559-1619)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 42 Silence After Compline
Mass: Mic 7:14-15, 18-20; Resp Ps 85; Mt 12:46-50

Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Apollinaris, bishop, martyr (late 2nd century)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 41 The Times for Meals
Mass: Mic 6:1-4, 6-8; Resp Ps 50; Mt 12:38-42

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 40 The Proper Amount of Drink
Mass: Wis 12:13, 16-19; Resp Ps 86; Rom 8:26-27; Mt 13:24-43

You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 39 The Proper Amount of Food
Mass: Micah 2:1-5; Resp Ps 10; Mt 12:14-21

Receive, Lord, the offerings of your people.

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 38 The Reader for the Week 
Mass: Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Resp Ps (Is 38); Mt 12:1-8

Those live whom the Lord protects; yours is the life of my spirit.

Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 37 The Elderly and Children
Mass: Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19; Resp Ps 102; Mt 11:28-30

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Bonaventure, bishop, doctor (1218-1274)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 36 The Sick
Mass: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16; Resp Ps 94; Mt 11:25-27

The glorious freedom of the children of God.

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680)
Saint Camillus of Lellis (1550-1614)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 35:12-18; 
Mass: Is 7:1-9; Resp Ps 48; Mt 11:20-24

God's holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth.

Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Henry (973-1024)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 35:1-11 Kitchen Servers of the Week
Mass: Is 1:10-17; Resp Ps 50; Mt 10:34-11:1

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

International Day of the Sea: A day to remember seafarers in prayer

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 34 Distribution of Goods According to Need
Mass: :10-11; Resp Ps 65; Is 55Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-12

The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

The Solemnity of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 33 Monks and Private Ownership
Mass: Prov 2:1-9; Resp Ps 34; Eph 4:1-6; Mt 19:1-6

Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise His name.

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 32 The Tools and Goods of the Monastery
Mass: Hos 14:2-10; Resp Ps 51; Mt 10:16-23

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, martyrs (17th-20th centuries)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 31:13-19
Mass: Hos 11:1-14, 8e-9; Resp Ps 80; Mt 10:7-15

LET US SEE YOUR FACE, LORD, AND WE SHALL BE SAVED.

(Resp Ps 80)

This is the second day with Saint Benedict's chapter on the qualifications of the monastery cellarer. The chapter is worth reading in its entirety and is relevant for anyone having responsibility for people and goods in the home, community, or work environment. One might call the cellarer's office the Department of Human Resources. The specific job as detailed by St Benedict is not for everyone. When you read it, you will see. For example, the cellarer is "wise, mature in conduct, temperate, not an excessive eater, not proud, excitable, offensive, dilatory or wasteful" (RB 31:1). The cellarer "must show every care and concern for the sick, children, guests and the poor" (RB 31:9). She "will regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar" (RB 31:10). Put another way, she will be mindful and show reverence for all people and things.

The cellarer has been entrusted with the human and material goods of the monastery. He will be humble (RB 31:13) and fulfill the requests and needs of the brothers or sisters. If he is unable to meet a request, the cellarer "will offer a kind word in reply, for it is written: A kind word is better than the best gift (Sir 18:17)" (RB 31:14). One could summarize the work of the cellarer with something Jesus says in today's Gospel: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give" (Mt 10:8).

SAINT AUGUSTINE ZAO RONG AND HIS COMPANIONS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sadly, I am having trouble in this department. Please bear with me as it may be a few days to get this technical difficulty worked out. Stay tuned for more beauty from Redwoods.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Kilian (-689)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 31:1-12 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer
Mass: Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Resp Ps 105; Mt 10:1-17

LOOK TO THE LORD IN HIS STRENGTH; SEEK TO SERVE HIM CONSTANTLY.

(Resp Ps 105)

Acting upon words from the prophet Hosea should keep us busy for a day: "Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain down justice upon you" (Hos 10:12). One way to go about it is to pray these intercessions:

Lord, answer those who seek you!

For those who are in flight from any kind of danger: -be their protection.

For those who live in terror or want: -set them free.

For those who seek to know your will and do it: -show them the way.

(Magnificat, Prayer for the Morning, July 8, 2020)

SAINT KILIAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Still experiencing technical difficulties, we go another day "photoless". Photo or not, the show must go on. Keep going.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 30 The Correction of the Young
Mass: Hos 8:4-7, 11-13; Resp Ps 115; Mt 9:32-38

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD; BLESSED THE ONE WHO SEEKS REFUGE IN HIM.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

Jesus is busy this morning "proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness" (Mt 9:35). Take note. Jesus cured every disease and illness. And Henri Nouwen said this: "Jesus' actions flowed from his interior communion with God ... everyone who touched Him was healed". Take note. Everyone who touched Jesus was healed. Dear Jesus, the Divine Physician, shows no favorites. That said, Jesus does have preferential option for the troubled, abandoned, sick and lame. There should be a rush to get to the head of the line.

Today's photo: Sorry folks. Due to technical difficulties, we go "photoless". Keep going.

Gertrude Feick 2020

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Maria Goretti, virgin, martyr (1890-1902)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 29 Readmission of Those Who Leave the Monastery
Mass: Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22; Resp Ps 145; Mt 9:18-26

The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In other years: Saint Antony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 28 Those Who Refuse to Amend After Frequent Rebukes
Mass: Zech 9:9-10; Resp Ps 145; Rm 8:9, 11-13; Mt 11:25-30

He shall proclaim peace to the nations.

Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Independence Day
Blessed Virgin Mary
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336)
First Saturday of the Month

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated
Mass: Amos 9:11-15; Resp Ps 85; Mt 9:14-17
For Independence Day: Is 9:1-6 or Phil 4:6-9; Resp Ps 72; Mt 5:1-12a

Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.

Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 26 Unauthorized Association with the Excommunicated
Mass: Eph 2: 19-22; Resp Ps 117; Jn 20:24-29

Glorify the Lord, all you peoples!

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 25 Serious Faults
Mass: Amos 7:10-17; Resp Ps 19; Mt 9:1-8

All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Junipero Serra, Apostle of California (1713-1784)
Saint Oliver Plunkett (1625-1681)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 24 Degrees of Excommunication
Mass: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Resp Ps 50; Mt 8:28-34

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.