Tuesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saint: Saint Aidan (-651)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 73 This Rule Only a Beginning of Perfection

Mass: 1 Th 5:1-5, 9-11; Resp Ps 27; Lk 4:31-37

The Lord is my life's refuge.

HEART OF JESUS, BURNING FURNACE OF CHARITY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

This line from Saint Paul, in his first letter to the Thessalonians, presented to us in today's first reading, appeals to me. Encourage one another and build one another up (1 Th 5:11). It strikes me as so important that we encourage and support one another in our faith and with our prayer. Then then are three quotations I read early this morning that I pass along to you.

For Christians defeat is always just around the corner. Christian life is a battle against, sin, temptation, and despair. Our true strength comes from the simple, yet hard to live, commands of loving God and neighbor. A less violent future may lie in the hearts of men and women willing to organize their lives as God has commanded.

(Michele Malia McAloon, "A Christian Response to Defeat" in The Catholic Thing, August 31, 2021)

There is no holiness where you have withdrawn your hand, O Lord; no profitable wisdom if you cease to rule over it; no helpful strength if you cease to preserve it. For if you forsake us, we sink and perish; but if you visit us, we rise up and live again. We are unstable, but you make us firm; we grow cool, but you inflame us.

(From the Imitation of Christ, in Office of Readings, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday)

What is the secret of a blessed life? Recognizing Jesus as the living God. For it is not important to know that Jesus was great in history. What matters is the place I give Him in my life.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, August 31, 2021)

And we can't close out the day without closing words from Saint Benedict, literally. Today ends the second time we've read through the Holy Rule in its entirety this year, as prescribed in Ch 58, where Saint Benedict tells us that the newcomer should have the Rule read to him "straight through", three times (RB 58:9-13). Our holy father Benedict concludes the Rule, and we complete our second read for 2021, in this way: "Are you hastening toward your heavenly home? Then with Christ's help, keep this little rule that we have written for beginners. After that, you can set out for the loftier summits of the teaching and virtues we mentioned above, and under God's protection you will reach them. Amen" (RB 58:8-9). 

SAINT AIDAN,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I finally snapped this after looking at it morning after morning in our garden of delights.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Margaret Clitherow, nee Middleton (1556-1586); Saint Anne Line, nee Heighan (1565?-1601); Saint Margaret Ward (-1588); Blessed Ghebre Michael (1790-1855); Saint Fiacre (7th century); Saint Edmund Arrowsmith (1585-1628)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks

Mass: 1 Th 4:13-18; Resp Ps 96; Lk 4:16-30

For great is the Lord and highly to be praised; awesome is He, beyond all gods.

I have referred to Abbot Patrick Barry, OSB, of happy memory, a monk of Ampleforth, more than once. He called Chapter 72 of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, "the most beautiful chapter in the Rule of Benedict, possessing an appeal that is universal ..." He goes on to say, "It is about the fulfillment of our baptism, which unites us all 'who are in Christ Jesus.' It is about what our lives would be like-monastics, laity, clerics, bishops, priests, deacons, the poor, the rich, the strong, the weak, those who have power and station, and those who have none-if we followed Christ as we should." Furthermore, "As a vision, it is what Christianity is all about" (P. Barry, trans. and introduction, Saint Benedict's Rule, p. 36). I leave it to you to decide if Abbot Patrick knew what he was talking about, as I believe he certainly did. 😊

Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rm 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body and behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to purse what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and my he bring us all together to everlasting life.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch 72)

SAINT MARGARET CLITHEROW,

SAINT ANNE LINE,

SAINT MARGARET WARD,

BLESSED GHEBRE MICHAEL,

SAINT FIACRE,

SAINT EDMUND ARROWSMITH,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another awesome photo from the Ottos, this one of lovely reflections in Tenas Lakes, OR. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

In other years: Saint John the Baptist

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 71 Mutual Obedience

Mass: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Resp Ps 15; Jm 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

How great is the goodness, Lord, that you keep for those who fear you.

HAPPY ARE WE IF WE DO THE DEEDS OF WHICH WE HAVE HEARD AND SUNG. OUR HEARING THEM MEANS HAVING THEM PLANTED IN US, WHILE OUR DOING THEM SHOWS THAT THE SEED HAS BORNE FRUIT.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time)

In today's Gospel, the Pharisees with some scribes are busy pointing their fingers at Jesus and His disciples. In other words, they are busy finger pointing. "Why do your disciples do this, why don't they do that ...?" What Jesus' critics forget is that when they point one finger at Jesus and His disciples, three fingers point at themselves. Why is it that we spend so much energy on blaming others for the situations we find ourselves in, or using others as the excuse as to why we do or did this or that, or don't do this or that? Maybe it's better to accept responsibility for our words and actions, own them in other words. It's seems more productive in any case. Then we can be "doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding ourselves" (James 1:22). I can't change other people, but I can change myself. And Jesus does tell us: Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile (Mk 7:14-15). The Holy Father put it nicely in today's Angelus Address:

Today let us ask the Lord to free us from blaming others-like children: "No, it wasn't me! It's the other one, the other one ...". Let us ask in prayer for the grace not to waste time polluting the world with complaints, because this is not Christian. Jesus instead invites us to look at life and the world starting from our heart. If we look inside, we will find almost all that we despise outside. And if, sincerely, we ask God to purify our heart, that is when we will start making the world cleaner. Because there is an infallible way to defeat evil: by starting to conquer it within yourself. The first Fathers of the Church, the monks, when they were asked: "What is the path of holiness?", the first step, they used to say, was to blame yourself. Blame yourself. Blaming ourselves. How many of us, during the day, in a moment during the day or a moment during the week, are able to blame ourselves within? "Yes, this one did this to me, the other one ... that is barbarity ..." But me? I do the same things, or I do it this way ... It is wisdom, learning to blame yourself. Try to do it, it will do you good. It does me good, when I manage to do so, but it is good for us, it does everyone good.

(Pope Francis, Angelus Address, August 29, 2021)

Do not let your hearts go corrupt. Only corrupt things come from a corrupt heart.

(Francis Mahieu ocso, 1912-2002)

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A girasole (sunflower) for a Sunday, from our garden of delights.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Saturday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Doctor of Grace (354-430)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 70 The Presumption of Striking Another Monk at Will

Mass: 1 Th 4:9-11; Resp Ps 98; Mt 25:14-30

Be glad in the Lord, you just.

O LORD, YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF AND RESTLESS IS OUR HEART UNTIL IT COMES TO REST IN YOU.

(Saint Augustine, Confessions, I, 1)

As we commemorate the great Saint Augustine, Doctor of Grace, it's not a bad idea to pick up a copy of his Confessions, and read some of it. Two excerpts are given in yesterday's and today's Office of Readings. You can find several translations online too. Looking at Ch 1 or Ch 27 will keep one busy enough. In the first chapter, Augustine praises God and acknowledges his own sin. In the 27th chapter Augustine grieves that he was so long without God. I have included two teaser quotations for you. And if we look to today's Gospel, Augustine was certainly not someone who buried the talents given to him. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away (Mt 25:29).

Late have I love you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!

(Saint Augustine, Confessions, 27)

SAINT AUGUSTINE,

SAINT MONICA,

SAINT JOSEPH, 

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Beautiful and dear friend Anna and I at the entrance to the ancient city of Ostia, on the Tiber, where Saint Augustine was with his mother Saint Monica when she died.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saint: Saint Monica (331-387)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 69 The Presumption of Defending Another in the Monastery

Mass: 1 Th 4:1-8; Resp Ps 97; Mt 25:1-13

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

THE WOMAN WHO FEARS THE LORD WILL HERSELF BE PRAISED. HER CHILDREN HAVE CALLED HER MOST BLESSED, HER HUSBAND HAS SUNG HER PRAISES.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

As we commemorate Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine, it occurs to me that Saint Monica and Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur (1866-1914) could have a lively discussion about the power of prayer. Jesus tells us a parable today, the one about the foolish virgins and the wise ones. In the end, we are to stay awake, no matter what. We never know the results of perseverance in prayer. We keep on praying for one another; Jesus acts when He will. Saint Monica saw the answer to her prayers before she died. Servant of God Elisabeth saw them in her husband after she died. Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour (Mt 25:13). 

The day was now approaching when my mother Monica would depart from this life; you knew that day, Lord, though we did not. She and I happened to be standing by ourselves at a window that overlooked the garden in the courtyard of the house. At the time we were in Ostia on the Tiber ... And so the two of us, all alone, were enjoying a very pleasant conversation ... My mother said: "Son, as far as I am concerned, nothing in this life now gives me any pleasure. I do not know why I am still here, since I have no further hopes in this world. I did have one reason for want to live a little longer: to see you become a Catholic before I died. God has lavished his gifts on me in that respect, for I know that you have even renounced earthly happiness to be his servant. So what am I doing here?

(From the Confessions of Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, August 27)

Let us not think that by our personal action we can hasten the coming of God's Kingdom in souls. As soon as the divine hour has come, our efforts will be useless, or rather they will only be an active prayer, and appeal to Him who transforms and saves. Nevertheless, let us make this appeal to Him with the humble conviction that He alone will do what must be done, and will bring life to the souls for which we act and pray.

(Elisabeth Leseur from her Journal, in The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. xiv)

SAINT MONICA,

SAINT AUGUSTINE,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another look at Three Sisters from atop Scott Mountain, Oregon. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Blessed Dominic Barberi (1792-1849); Saint David Lewis (1616-1679); Our Lady of Czestochowa; Saint Caesarius of Arles (c.470-542); Blessed Jacques Retouret (1747-1794); Saint Teresa of Jesus' Transverberation

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 68 The Assignment of Impossible Tasks

Mass: Th 3:7-13; Resp Ps 90; Mt 24:42-51

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness.

STAY AWAKE! FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW ON WHICH DAY YOUR LORD WILL COME.

(Mt 24:42)

Something I like about one of our saints of the day, Blessed Dominic Barberi, is that he received many Anglicans into full communion with the Church, including now Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890). Jesus, Crown of Saints, have mercy on us. 

There are at least two prayers to keep in our hearts and on our lips today, especially if we are assigned an impossible task as presented in our reading from the Holy Rule. If assigned a burdensome task or something you cannot do, you should, with complete gentleness and obedience, accept the order given ... trusting in God's help, you must in love obey (RB 68:1, 5). It just may be that what you thought was burdensome is life giving instead. And now we turn to Saint Paul's words to the Thessalonians, and an instruction by Saint Columban.

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

(1 Th 3:12-13)

For you are our all: our life, our light, our salvation, our food and our drink, our God. Inspire our hearts, I ask you, Jesus, with that breath of your Spirit; wound our souls with your love, so that the soul of each and every one of us may say in truth: Show me your soul's desire, for I am wounded by your love.

(From an instruction by Saint Columban, abbot, in Office of Readings, Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday)

BLESSED DOMINIC BARBERI,

SAINT DAVID LEWIS,

OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA,

SAINT CAESARIUS OF ARLES,

BLESSED JACQUES,

SAINT TERESA OF JESUS' TRANSVERBERATION,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This is an awesome photo of berries of mountain ash. "It's a shrub", I'm told, "not a full size tree. Lovely!"

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Louis (1214-1270); Saint Joseph of Calasanz (1557-1648); Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified Baouardy (1846-1878)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 67 Brothers Sent on a Journey

Mass: Th 2:9-13; Resp Ps 139; Mt 23:27-32

If I go up to the heavens, you are there.

JESUS, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses hypocrites. Woe to you (Mt 23:27), He says. Pope Francis, in today's Wednesday Catechesis had this to say about hypocrites:

Hypocrites are people who pretend, flatter and deceive because they live with a mask over their faces and do not have the courage to face the truth. For this reason, they are not capable of truly loving: a hypocrite does not know how to love. They limit themselves to living out of egoism and do not have the strength to show their hearts transparently. There are many situations in which hypocrisy is at work. It is often hidden in the work place where someone appears to be friends with their colleagues while, at the same time, stabbing them in the back due to competition. In politics, it is not unusual to find hypocrites who live one way in public and another way in private. Hypocrisy in the Church is particularly detestable; and unfortunately, hypocrisy exists in the Church and there are many hypocritical Christians and ministers. We should never forget the Lord's words: "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil" (Mt 5:37). Brothers and sisters, today, let us think about the hypocrisy that Paul condemns, and that Jesus condemns: hypocrisy. And let us not be afraid to be truthful, to the speak the truth, to hear the truth, to conform ourselves to the truth, so we can love. A hypocrite does not know how to love. To act other than truthfully means jeopardizing the unity of the Church, that unity for which the Lord Himself prayed.

And now a word from our saints of the day:

In order to avoid discord, never contradict anyone except in case of sin or some danger to a neighbor.

(Saint Louis IX, King of France)

You should permit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you allow yourself to commit a mortal sin.

(Saint Louis IX, King of France)

All who undertake to teach must be endowed with deep love, the greatest patience, and, most of all, profound humility. They must perform their work with earnest zeal. Then through their humble prayers, the Lord will find them worthy to become fellow workers with him in the cause of truth.

(Saint Joseph of Calasanz)

SAINT LOUIS,

SAINT JOSEPH OF CALASANZ,

SAINT MARY OF JESUS CRUCIFIED,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

 

Today's photo: The Ottos strike again with another beauty from their recent camping adventure to Benson Lake in the Benson State Recreation in Oregon. This shot is from their day hike to Tenas Lakes and the top of Scott Mountain, as seen in yesterday's photo. There is certainly more of this to come. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 66 The Porter of the Monastery

Mass: Rev 21:9b-14; Resp Ps 145; Jn 1:45-51

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US. 

In today's reading from the Holy Rule, we learn about the porter of the monastery, the sensible and mature person assigned to the door of the monastery so that she is available to welcome guests. When someone knocks on the door of the monastery, the porter replies, "Thanks be to God" or "Your blessing please" (RB 66:3). Wouldn't it be nice if all of us welcomed those who knock at our doors in the same way, especially those who come at unexpected or inconvenient times. After all, as Saint Benedict tells us in another chapter, "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Proper honor must be shown to all, especially those who share our faith and to pilgrims" (RB 53:1-3).

May Saint Bartholomew, Apostle and Patron Saint of the Sick, intercede for us so that like him, there is no duplicity in us. 

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, 

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Maddy taking in a spectacular view of Three Sisters from the top of Scott Mountain, Oregon.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Rose of Lima, Patron Saint of South America, Patron Saint of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, California (1586-1617); Saint Eugene (-c.618); Saint John Wall (1620-1679)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 65:11-22 The Prior of the Monastery

Mass: 1 Th 1-5, 8b-10; Resp Ps 149; Mt 23:13-22

The Lord takes delight in His people.

MARY, COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED,

PRAY FOR US.

Nobody knows himself who has not suffered.

(Alfred de Musset, 1810-1857)

I thought I was an angel. Then I fell ill and apparently there dwelled a devil within me.

(Xavier Thevenot)

Just yesterday afternoon I was engaged in a discussion about the value of suffering, how we grow when we suffer and carry afflictions, that is, if we are open to the graces offered to us in difficult times. However, we certainly don't need to go look for suffering, difficulties arise come what may. Then in preparation for today's commemoration of Saint Rose of Lima, I turned to the Office of Readings. What will you do with whatever ails you today? Jesus, Infinite Goodness, have mercy on us. 

Our Lord and Savior lifted up His voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase, Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven."

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA,

SAINT EUGENE,

SAINT JOHN WALL,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Catherine with sibs. Beautiful!

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

In other years: Saint John Kemble, Martyr (1599-1679)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 65:1-10 The Prior of the Monastery

Mass: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Resp Ps 34; Eph 5:21-32 or Eph 5:2a, 25-32; Resp Ps Jn 6:60-69

Let my soul glory in the Lord.

THE EARTH IS REPLETE WITH THE FRUITS OF YOUR WORK, O LORD; YOU BRING FORTH BREAD FROM THE EARTH AND WINE TO CHEER THE HEART.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

How can the antiphon above not bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart? And as I have been reflecting this morning on what to write, it just now occurs to me that with such a smile on my face and joy in my heart shouldn't I wholeheartedly want to, as Saint Paul exhorts in today's first reading, "Live in love, as Christ loved us" (Eph 5:2a), no matter our vocation? However, for some people perhaps, including me, certain challenges are presented to us, in sundry ways. Living in the love of Christ requires on-going conversion, change of heart and mind, and praying for the grace to to do God's will, even though it be something hard, difficult, or not necessarily what we had in mind. In other words, I can't just settle for the status quo and keep on doing my thing. Jesus never said that to follow Him would be easy. In order to be His disciple, He tells us more than once, means we have to pick up our cross and then follow Him. Through thick and thin though, we pray for the grace to accompany Jesus and keep going. There is no better way. So we say to Jesus, as Saint Peter did, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God" (Jn 6:69). 

YOUR WORDS, LORD, ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE; YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF EVERLASTING LIFE.

(Gospel Versicle, Mass)

SAINT JOHN KEMBLE,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: You've seen two of these beauties before. I found this look at three for today, from the Otto's trip to Kauai.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saint: Pope Saint Pius X (1835-1914); 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea's First Native-Born Priest (1821-1846)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 63:7-22

Mass: Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17; Resp Ps 128; Mt 23:1-12

See how the Lord blesses those who fear Him.

Two things for today. First, why not read and reflect on the Book of Ruth. A beautiful story of fidelity, it is not long, only four short chapters. I love Ruth, and especially something she said to Naomi: "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! for wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Wherever you do die I will die, and there be buried. May the Lord do so and so to me, and more besides, if aught but death separate me from you?" (Ruth 1:16-17). 

Second, considering the words of Pope Saint Pius X below, why not pray with the psalms? Do you have a favorite psalm? If you don't have a favorite psalm, find one and make a new friend with it. 😊

The psalms have a wonderful power to awaken in our hearts the desire for every virtue ... Indeed, who could fail to be moved by those many passages in the psalms which set forth so profoundly the infinite majesty of God, his omnipotence, his justice and goodness and clemency, too deep for words, and other infinite qualities of his that deserve our praise? Who could fail to be roused to the same emotions by the prayers of thanksgiving to God for blessings received, by the petitions, so humble and confident, for blessings still awaited, by the cries of a soul in sorrow for sin committed? Who could not be fired with love as he looks on the likeness of Christ, the redeemer, here so lovingly foretold? His was the voice Augustine heard in every psalm, the voice of praise, of suffering, of joyful expectation, of present distress.

(From the apostolic constitution Divino afflatu of Pope Saint Pius X, in Office of Readings, August 21, 2021)

POPE SAINT PIUS X,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: How's this for a dinner plate dahlia!

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercian Abbot and Doctor, "Last of the Fathers" (1090-1153)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 64:1-6 The Election of an Abbot

Mass: 

Solemnity of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux: Wisdom 7:7-10, 15-16 or Sirach 39:8-14; Ph 3:17-4:1; Mt 5:13-19 or Jn 17:20-26

Feria: Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22; Resp Ps 146; Mt 22:34-40

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

How fitting it is on this day that we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, that we also begin Saint Benedict's Chapter 64 on the Election of an Abbot. It is there in the Holy Rule that Saint Benedict writes, "Goodness of life and wisdom in teaching must be the criteria for choosing the one to be made abbot" (RB 64:2). Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was certainly one who was blessed with goodness of life and wisdom in teaching. The following comes from one of his sermons on the Song of Songs, 37:1. 

You remember that you have agreed with me that no one is saved without self-knowledge, since it is the source of that humility on which salvation depends, and the fear of the Lord that is as much the beginning of salvation as of wisdom. No one, I repeat, is saved without that knowledge ... 

But what if you have no knowledge of God? Is hope of salvation compatible with ignorance about God? Surely not. For you cannot love what you do not know, nor possess what you do not love. Know yourself and you will have a wholesome fear of God; know him and you will also love him. In the first, wisdom has its beginning, in the second its crown, for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "love is the fulfilling of the law." You must avoid both kinds of ignorance, because without fear and love salvation is not possible.

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

MARY, OUR LADY OF CITEAUX,

MARY, OUR LADY OF CLAIRVAUX,

MARY, OUR LADY OF LA TRAPP,

MARY, OUR LADY OF NAZARETH,

MARY, OUR LADY OF KLAARLAND,

MARY, OUR LADY OF THE REDWOODS,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: My oldest sister Kathy and I saw this tempura and gold on wood piece at the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 2017. By Italian artist Agnolo Gaddi (1350-1396), it was once part of a larger altarpiece whose center panel is now missing. The four saints you see, from left to right, are Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Benedict, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Blessed Guerric of Igny, Cistercian Abbot (1078-1157); Saint John Eudes (1601-1680); Saint Ezekiel Moreno (1848-1906); Saint Oswin (-651)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 63:10-19 Community Rank

Mass: Jdgs 11:29-39a; Resp Ps 40; Mt 22:1-14

Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

HEART OF JESUS, KING AND CENTER OF ALL HEARTS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

HEART OF MARY, IN UNION WITH THE HEART OF JESUS,

PRAY FOR US.

First, with something about where we are in the Rule of Saint Benedict. We began yesterday and conclude today the chapter on Community Rank, another one of the most beautiful chapters in the Holy Rule. You can see that here with some verses from today's passage: "The younger monks must respect their seniors, and the seniors must love their juniors ... wherever brothers meet, the junior asks his senior for a blessing. When an older monk comes by, the younger rises and offers him a seat, and does not presume to sit down unless the older bids him. In this way, they do what the words of Scripture say: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other" (RB 63:10, 15-17). It seems that these essentials of civility and good manners could be applied wherever we find ourselves, in community, at home, at work, on public transport, and so on.

Second, with some words from two of our Saints of the Day, Blessed Guerric of Igny, a Cistercian Abbot directly influenced by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux who we commemorate tomorrow. Then we turn to Saint John Eudes, who, among other things, encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart, and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

How faithful and worthy of a friend of Jesus is that voice, how pure that act of love which says: "It is enough for me that Jesus is still alive. If He lives, I live, for my spirit acts through His. Yes, He is my life, my all in all. For what can I lack if Jesus is still alive? Rather everything else may be taken from me so long as He lives. If He wishes then, let Him take no account of me. It is enough for me that He still lives even if He only lives for Himself.

(Blesse Guerric of Igny, Sermon 5 for Easter)  

A Christian has a union with Jesus Christ more noble, more intimate and more perfect than the members of a human body have with their head.

He longs to be in you, He wants His breath to be your breath, His heart in your heart, and His soul in your soul.

(Saint John Eudes)

Faith is a divine and celestial light, a participation in the eternal, inaccessible light, a beam radiating from the face of God.

(Saint John Eudes)

The air we breath, the bread which we eat, the heart which throbs in our bosoms, are not more necessary for man that he may live as a human being, than is prayer for the Christian that he may live as a Christian.

(Saint John Eudes)

BLESSED GUERRIC OF IGNY,

SAINT JOHN EUDES,

SAINT EZEKIEL MORENO,

SAINT OSWIN,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: These little beauties are simply busy doing just what they are supposed to be doing.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo (1848-1894); Saint Alberto Hurtado Chucaga (1901-1952); Blesseds John-Baptist Duvernaeuil, Michael-Aloysius Brulard and James Gagnot (d. 1794)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 63:1-9 Community Rank

Mass: Jdgs 9:6-15; Resp Ps 21; Mt 20:1-16

Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

WITH THE LORD THERE IS MERCY; IN HIM IS PLENTIFUL REDEMPTION.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

Considering the grumbling of the hired laborers in today's Gospel, and just in case we have any grumbling about this or that, it is a good day to let Saint Augustine (354-430) add some perspective:

So we must not grumble, my brothers, for as the Apostle says: Some of them murmured and were destroyed by serpents. Is there any affliction now endured by mankind that was not endured by our fathers before us? What sufferings of ours even compare with what we know of their sufferings? And yet you hear people complaining about this present day and age because things were so much better in former times. I wonder what would happen if they could be taken back to the days of their ancestors-would we not still hear them complaining? You may think past ages were good, but is is only because you are not living in them.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday)

BLESSED VICTORIA RASOAMANARIVO,

SAINT ALBERTO HURTADE CHUCAGA,

BLESSEDS JOHN-BAPTISH DUVERNAEUIL, 

MICHAEL-ALOYSIOU BRULARD, AND

JAMES GAGNOT,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I especially like the color of these in our garden of delights.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Blessed Angelus Mazzinghi (c.1386-1438)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 62 The Priests of the Monastery

Mass: Jdgs 6:11-24a; Resp Ps 85; Mt 19:23-30

The Lord speaks of peace to His people

JESUS, ZEALOUS LOVER OF SOULS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Considering some of Jesus' words to us today, namely, many who are first will be last, and the last will be first (Mt 19:30), and the words of Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur below, may we not look too far or too high, or something wonderful to do. Rather, may we stay focused on the here and the now, and look to what is in front of us at this very moment. This is a narrow path. For, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Mt 19:24).

Sometimes the very desire for action leads to the neglect of action. Looking for some wonderful opportunity to give oneself, one forgets the humble brother close at hand who is waiting for a word of comfort, a saving gesture.

Let us not linger in contemplation of the road ahead; let us follow the narrow path. Let us not look too far or too high, but right in front of ourselves. The good to be done is perhaps there.

(The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 152

BLESSED ANGELUS MAZZINGHI,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another nice one in our garden of plenty.

 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Stephen of Hungary, Patron Saint of Hungary (969-1038); Saint Rock (-1378); Blessed Maria Sagrario of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (1881-1936)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 61:6-14 The Reception of Visiting Monks

Mass: Jdgs 2:11-19; Resp Ps 106; Mt 19:16-22

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN YOU BESIDES, SAYS THE LORD.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the young man who asked the Lord what he must do to gain eternal life: If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (Mt 19:21). What do you need to sell today? As we begin a new week, perhaps think how you can more and more surrender to what binds you from becoming closer to Jesus and to those with whom you live and work. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

SAINT STEPHEN OF HUNGARY,

SAINT ROCK,

BLESSED MARIA SAGRARIO OF ST ALOYSIUS GONZAGA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.

(From admonitions to his son by Saint Stephen, in Office of Readings, August 16)

NB. I apologize for the late posting of today's reflection. Our local area has been without power today. However, we are now good to go. 

Today's photo: From our vegetable and flower garden of delights.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patronal Feast of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 61:1-5 The Reception of Visiting Monks

Mass: Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Resp Ps 45; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56

MARY, MOTHER OF CITEAUX,

PRAY FOR US.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

(Lk 1:46-47)

It is on days like this, the glorious Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Patronal Feast of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, that I turn to our Catechism of the Catholic Church. We find this in paragraph 966, a magnificent text:

Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:

In giving birth, you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.

And this from Pope Benedict XVI:

Mary is blessed because-totally, in body and soul and forever-she became the Lord's dwelling place. If this is true, Mary does not merely invite our admiration and veneration, but she guides us, shows us the way of life, shows us how we can become blessed, how to find the path of happiness.

(Pope Benedict XVI, Solemnity of the Assumption, homily, August 15, 2006)

With Mary as our guide then, why not pray with the Litany of Mary today. Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

MARY, ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN,

MARY, GATE OF HEAVEN,

MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN,

JOSEPH, PROTECTOR OF THE HOLY CHURCH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From the website of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, www.ocso.org. All Cistercian monasteries are dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, “Martyr of Charity” (1894-1941)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 60 The Admission of Priests to the Monastery

Mass: Joshua 24:14-29; Resp Ps 16; Mt 19:13-15

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

JESUS, STRENGTH OF MARTYRS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends, says the Lord.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

With a little bit of research I found that it was now Pope Saint Paul VI who called our saint of the day, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a "martyr of love", when Pope Paul VI beatified Maximilian in 1971. Then, when canonizing Maximilian Kolbe in 1982, now Pope Saint John Paul II, echoed his predecessor and declared Maximilian Kolbe a "martyr of charity." I find these tidbits fascinating. Oh the gift and beauty of our faith tradition. All said, we have plenty of inspiration on this Saturday as we promise with "all the tribes of Israel at Shechem" (Joshua 24:1), We will serve the Lord for He is our God ... and obey His voice (Joshua 24:18, 24)!

Let us love [Mary] concretely, fulfilling all our duties as well as we can from morning to night, since all this is the will of Jesus, in order to prove our love for Jesus by loving His Mother, the Immaculate Mary. 

(Maximilian Kolbe, in Magnificat "Meditation of the Day", August 14, 2021).

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

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

SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE,

BLESSED ELISABETH LESEUR,

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

JOSEPH, MOST STRONG,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. Another interesting to me tidbit is that Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) and Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur (1866-1914), two of my favorites, lives overlapped. Two different people, leading very different lives, both rooted in our faith, doing the will of God, in their parts of the world. God is praised. May they both intercede for us.

Today's photo: I found these delights taking a bit of refuge in a bush behind Lima's Professional Pharmacy in Eureka, CA.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priests, Martyrs (-235); Saint Fachtna or Fachanan of Ross, Patron Saint of the Diocese of Ross (?); Blessed William Freeman (-1595)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 59 The Offering of Sons by Nobles and or by the Poor

Mass: Joshua 24:1-13; Resp Ps 136; Mt 19:3-12

His mercy endures forever.

HEART OF JESUS, PATIENT AND MOST MERCIFUL,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Thinking about our Responsorial Psalm 136 proclaimed at Mass today, along with the words from Saint Hippolytus included below, it occurred to me that one prayer of praise and thanksgiving to put in our hearts and on our lips in the morning and the evening, and throughout the day as well, is contained in Ps 136:1, namely, Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Be on the look out for signs of God's merciful love and kindness throughout this day. They come in myriad and sometimes subtle ways ... 

SAINTS PONTIAN AND HIPPOLYTUS,

SAINT FACHNA OF ROSS,

BLESSED WILLIAM FREEMAN,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Let every faithful man and woman when they rise from sleep at dawn before they undertake any work wash their hands and pray to God ... Pray also before thy body rests upon the bed.

(Saint Hippolytus)

Let each of us ... strive for the highest degree of glory, whichever be the honor for which he is destined; may all Christians be found worth of either the pure white crown of a holy life or the royal red crown of martyrdom.

(From a letter by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, August 13)

Today's photo: This beauty endures.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Mother of six children, Widow, Foundress of the Order of the Visitation, along with Saint Francis de Sales (1572-1641); Blessed Isidore Bakanja (c.1886-1909); Saint Muredach (5th century); Saint Attracta (5th or 6th century); Saint Lelia (?); Saint Blaan (-590)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 58:17-29 The Procedure for Receiving Brothers 

Mass: Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17; Resp Ps 114; Mt 18:21-19:1

Alleluia!

HEART OF JESUS, OUR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

It occurs to me that Peter may have been surprised with Jesus' answer to his question, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" (Mt 18:21). It turns out that seven times won't do it. Jesus answered: I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Mt 18:22). Oh my. Why not spend some time with Saint Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer.

Father, hallowed by Thy name. 

Thy kingdom come. 

Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.

(Lk 11:2-4)

He is our peace, for He has made both one. Since we think of Christ as our peace, we may call ourselves true Christians only if our lives express Christ by our own peace. As the Apostle says: He has put enmity to death. We must never allow it to be rekindled in us in any way but must declare that it is absolutely dead. Gloriously has God slain enmity, in order to say us; may we never risk the life of our souls by being resentful or by bearing grudges. We must not awaken that enmity or call it back to life by our wickedness, for it is better left dead.

(From a treatise on Christian Perfection by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop, in Office of Readings, Thursday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time)

We have several saints to call upon today for intercession. Saint Jane Frances de Chantal has these words of wisdom:

Hell is full of the talented, but Heaven of the energetic.

(Saint Jane Frances de Chantal)

In our neighbor, we should observe only what is good.

(Saint Jane Frances de Chantal)

The great method of prayer is to have none. If in going to prayer one can form in oneself a pure capacity for receiving the spirit of God, that will suffice for all method.

(Saint Jane Frances de Chantal)

SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES,

BLESSED ISIDORE BAKANJA,

SAINT MUREDACH,

SAINT ATTRACTA,

SAINT LELIAN,

SAINT BLAAN, 

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Plums at the monastery.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Clare of Assisi, Virgin (1193/3-1253)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 58:1-16 The Procedure for Receiving Brothers

Mass: Dt 34:1-12; Resp Ps 66; Mt 18:15-20

Come and see the works of God.

I DESPISED THE KINGDOM OF THE WORLD AND ALL WORLDLY FINERY FOR THE LOVE OF MY LORD, JESUS CHRIST, WHOM I HAVE SEEN, WHOM I HAVE LOVED, IN WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, IN WHOM HAS BEEN MY DELIGHT.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Memories continue to flood in, spurred on today with the commemoration of Saint Clare of Assisi. I recall my first trip to Assisi. It was 2006 as part of the Monastic Formators' Program, and I, along with other religious from the Benedictine tradition (Benedictines and Cistercians primarily, 29 of us I think it was) spent two weeks in Assisi soaking up the glorious atmosphere of the Umbrian countryside and the stomping grounds of Saint Clare and Saint Francis of Assisi. I remember many things. One is rising at first light every morning to run the empty and peaceful streets of Assisi. We stayed just outside the wall that surrounds the city and I would enter the city from the bottom gate and first run up to the Basilica of Saint Francis ... up, up, up. Then meander through the narrow streets, climbing all the stairs I came across, and there are many, then down, here and there, not without going to the Basilica of Saint Clare, on the way up and the way down, for a few trips around the piazza in front. Another visit was September 22, 2010, with my two dear older sisters who came to Rome (one from Indiana, the other from California) to visit me while I was studying. I still have our itinerary, entitled "Italian Sister Act 2010"! We had a wonderful day after taking the early train from Rome to Assisi. We explored every nook and cranny, or at least as many as we could in a day, not without enjoying a good meal with gelato. And other things too. 😊 Saint Clare, please intercede for us. Help us to love Jesus totally. 

Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love.

(Saint Clare of Assisi)

Our labor here is brief, but reward is eternal. Do not be disturbed by the clamor of the world which passes like a shadow. Do not let the false delights of a deceptive world deceive you.

(Saint Clare of Assisi)

Melancholy is the poison of devotion. When one is in tribulation, it is necessary to be more happy and more joyful because one is nearer to God.

(Saint Clare of Assisi)

Happy is she who is granted a place at the divine banquet, for she may cling with her inmost heart to Him whose beauty eternally awes the blessed hosts of heaven; to Him whose love inspires love, whose contemplation refreshes, whose generosity satisfies, whose gentleness delights, whose memory shines sweetly as the dawn; to Him whose fragrance revives the dead, and whose glorious vision will bless all the citizens of that heavenly Jerusalem. For He is the splendor of eternal glory, the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud.

(From a letter to Blessed Agnes of Prague by Saint Clare, virgin, in Office of Readings, August 11)

SAINT CLARE OF ASSISI,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another awesome sunflower from d, this one without bee. 😎

© Gertrude Feick 2021