Tuesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta (1256-1301/2); Saint Margaret of Scotland (1046-1093); Saint Edmund of Abingdon (1175?-1240); Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn 

Readings of the Day

RB:  Ch 38 The Reader for the Week

Mass: 2 Macc 6:18-31; Resp Ps 3; Lk 19:1-10

Set me as a seal upon your heart.

MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today we begin a litany of commemorating powerhouse women saints. We have two on tap for today, one for tomorrow, and another on Thursday. You will see. 

We kick-off with two very different women. First, there is my patron, German Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta, who, as written in The Herald of Divine Love, "like a white lily, [God] freely planted her in the perfumed garden of the church, that is to say, among the assembly of the just. As a little girl of four years old he withdrew her from the turmoil of the world to introduce her into the bridal chamber of holy religion" (I, 1.). It wasn't until Gertrude's 26th year though, that she "realized she was far from God, in a land of unlikeness" (I, 1). She had her "day of salvation" (II, 1), and "her love of learning now became desire for knowledge of God" (I, 1). There is much more to her story. However, for today, let's invoke her. Gertrude the Great was very close to the heart of Jesus. In fact, Jesus said to one of Gertrude's sisters, I live in the heart of Gertrude, as shown in the icon featured in today's photo. We await the day when Gertrude the Great is named a Doctor of the Church. She is being considered and deserves the overdue honor. 

Second, we have Saint Margaret of Scotland, Hungarian born, wife of King Malcolm III of Scotland, mother of eight children. Among other notables, "she reformed the royal court, founded monasteries, and supported major reforms of Church life ... she is remembered for the happiness of her marriage, for her devotion to prayer and learning, and especially for her generosity to the poor" (Universalis).

Holy Spirit, Paraclete, ah! with that glue of love with which you unite Father and Son, unite my heart with Jesus forever.

(Gertrude the Great of Helfta, Spiritual Exercises, 121-122)

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND,

SAINT EDMUND OF ABINGDON, 

OUR LADY OF THE GATE OF DAWN,

SAINT JOSEPH

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Gertrude the Great through the hand of Br. Claude, OSB. Used with permission of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, OR.

© Gertrude Feick 2021