Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

Saint Patrick, Bishop, Missionary (385-461); Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, Abbess (c. 626-659)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 38 The Reader for the Week

Mass: Is 49:8-15; Resp Ps 145; Jn 5:17-30

The Lord is gracious and merciful.

SAINT PATRICK, PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND,

PRAY FOR US.

Are you wearing green? Irish ancestry or not, everybody is Irish on Saint Patrick's Day! ☘ I share with you what I shared last year in the form of an Irish blessing (or maybe it's a curse 😊) my Irish Great Aunt Mary taught me.

May those who love us, love us

And those who don't,

May God turn their hearts.

And if He doesn't turn their hearts,

May He turn their ankles so we'll know

Them by their limping.

Such a blessing works for all of  us who are limping along. As we hear from the Prophet Isaiah, "the Lord comforts His people, and shows mercy to His afflicted" (Is 49:13). May our hearts be turned so as to receive the Lord's comfort and mercy. Then, may we pass it on, especially to those with whom we have the most difficulty. 

I was interested to learn from trusty Butler's Lives of the Saints that we also remember Saint Gertrude of Nivelles today. It is interesting to me because more than one person has confused her with my patron, Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta (1256-1301/2). It is no wonder we commemorate Saint Gertrude of Nivelles on this particular day. Butler's relates: "As her death approached, apparently in a state of fear at the approaching judgment she sent a message to St Ultan at Fosse. He told her that she would die the next day during Mass but have no fear as she would be welcomed by St. Patrick on his feast, by the angels, and many other saints. She died 17 March 659 at the age of thirty-three and was buried in the church of St Peter, one of the three at Nivelles " (March volume, p. 173).

SAINT GERTRUDE OF NIVELLES,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More Eureka Calla Lilies.

© Gertrude Feick 2021