Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux (1120-1177); Saint Davnet (7th century); Saint Lidwina (1380-1433); Saint Elisha, Prophet (1-2 Kings); Blessed Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

Mass: 2 Cor 6:1-10; Resp Ps 98; Mt 5:38-42

Break into song; sing praise.

WHEN YOU GIVE TO HIM, GIVE FREELY AND NOT WITH ILL WILL; FOR THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WILL BLESS YOU FOR THIS IN ALL YOUR WORKS AND UNDERTAKINGS.

(Dt 15:10)

When pressed into service today, even "through glory and dishonor, insult and praise" (2 Cor 6:8), go the extra mile.

Give to everyone who asks thee, and do not refuse for the Father's will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received.

(Teachings of the Twelve Apostles)

The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.

(Saint Basil the Great, 330-379)

BLESSED GERARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA OF THE EUCHARIST,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. Cistercians celebrate the optional memorial of Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux, a brother of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Their relationship was close. A sermon worth reading is Bernard of Clairvaux On the Song of Songs, Sermon 26. It is Bernard's lament for the death of his beloved brother. Among other ways, Bernard praised Gerard this way: "What a busy man he was! What a trustworthy friend! Though always glad to be in the company of friends, he was never thereby prevented from answering the call of charity. Who ever went away from him empty-handed? The rich found enlightenment, the poor were given alms. Nor did he seek his own advantage, he who shouldered every burden that I might be free."

Today's photo: This is was taken a few weeks ago. I like the white specks on the underside of the leaf. And the color of the flowers is a favorite.

© Gertrude Feick 2021