Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saint: Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 60 The Admission of Priests to the Monastery

Mass:  Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Resp Ps 34; Mt 21:28-32

Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy.

As we commemorate a priest and Doctor of the Church, Saint John of the Cross, called, "an intellectual genius and a reformer" (the great saint is quoted five times in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Why not look up the references and see what he has to say, especially in CCC 65, which turns out to be a good commentary on today's Gospel. Check it out and see what you think 😊), we also hear Saint Benedict's guidelines for the admission of priests into the monastery (RB 60). Certainly, Saint John of the Cross was a priest who would "not make any exceptions for himself but rather give everyone an example of humility" (RB 60:5).

In honor of Saint John of the Cross, we let him speak to us today. At the same time, we pray for all Carmelites, both Discalced and the Order of Carmelites. Now with a few words from Saint John of the Cross starting with important news from him, namely, "At the end of our life, we shall be judged by love.

The soul of one who loves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing.

Learn to abide with attention in loving waiting upon God in the state of quiet.

Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.

Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. 

The purest suffering bears and carries in its train the purest understanding.

He that complains or murmurs is not perfect, nor is he even a good Christian.

The soul that is united with God is feared by the devil as one who is where God Himself is.

A bird can be held by a chain or by a thread, still it cannot fly.

In detachment, the spirit finds quiet and repose for coveting nothing. Nothing wearies it by elation, and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands in the center of its own humility. 

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Baby Charlie Steven is certainly radiant with joy. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021