Year of Saint Joseph
Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
Other Saints: Saint Cuthbert Mayne (1543-1577)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 49 The Observance of Lent
Mass: Rm 10:9-18; Resp Ps 19; Mt 4:18-22
The precepts of the Lord are right.
HEART OF JESUS, DELIGHT OF ALL THE SAINTS,
HAVE MERCY ON US.
On this last day of the glorious month of November, when we celebrate all the saints in heaven and on earth, and pray too for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, we conclude in a rousing fashion by commemorating Saint Andrew the Apostle. God is praised.
At the same time, we read from Chapter 49 of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, on the observance of Lent. Since it is as Saint Benedict says, that life ought to be a continuous Lent (RB 49:1), there are many aspects of the chapter that apply to the Season of Advent. Saint Benedict urges the whole community to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away the negligences of other times (RB 49:2-3). We can do this during the holy season of Advent so as to be clear in our mind and heart to remember the birth of Jesus, and look forward to His Second Coming, as written about this past Sunday. We want to do what we can with the grace of God, to strengthen our hearts to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as Saint Paul exhorts (1 Th 3:13). We can devote ourselves to prayer, and reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial (RB 49:4), and stand erect and alert, even while carrying the burdens of daily life, things that weigh us down like pressures at work, problems in the family, illness, and so on. We can, as we do during Lent, deny ourselves of some food, drink, needless talking and idle jesting (RB 49:7), or any other things that make us "bobalized", as also written about last Sunday. We ask God to help us then, O God, come to my assistance, O Lord, make haste to help me. During Lent, we look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing (RB 49:7) Let us look forward to Christmas then, with joy and spiritual longing. United in faith and prayer, we support each other, from near and far.
SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE,
SAINT CUTHBERT MAYNE,
SAINT JOSEPH,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: More beauty in the clay pot. Happy Name Day bro James Andrew.
© Gertrude Feick 2021
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