Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
Saints: Saint Casimir (1458-1484)
Readings of the Day
Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated
Mass: Is 58:1-9a; Resp Ps 51; Mt 9:14-15
Of my sin cleanse me.
MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,
PRAY FOR US.
I love the Lord, who listened to my voice in supplication.
(Psalm 116)
In today's Gospel, the Pharisees are once again not minding their own business. They wonder why the disciples do not fast as they do (Mt 9:14). The disciples will feast now, however, as Jesus is with them. Jesus is with you; Jesus is with me. He says, Here I am! (Is 58:9a). Remembering that, let us not mourn, let us ask the Lord to help us fast in the way the Lord God wishes, among those with whom we live, work, and play: Release those bound unjustly; untie the thongs of the yoke; set free the oppressed; break every yoke; share your bread with the hungry; shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked; don't turn your back on your own (Is 58:6-7). Saint Benedict might summarize with this tool for good works: “Never turn away when someone needs your love” (RB 4:26). Saint Casimir certainly followed suit. May he intercede for us.
United in faith and prayer, we continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia. And as we commemorate Saint Casimir, the 15th century second son of King Casimir IV of Poland, we pray also for the people of Poland and Lithuania. Kyrie, eleison.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Casimir burned with a sincere and unpretentious love for almighty God that was almost unbelievable in its strength. So rich was his love and so abundantly did it fill his heart, that it flowed out from his inner spirit toward his fellow men ... One would have to compose a long account to record here all his works of love and dedication to God and for mankind. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine or to express his passion for justice, his exercise of moderation, his gift of prudence, his fundamental spiritual courage and stability, especially in a most permissive age, when men tended to be headstrong and by their very natures inclined to sin.
(From the life of Saint Casimir written by a contemporary, in Office of Readings, March 4)
SAINT CASIMIR,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: Thank you again, dear Anna and Nicola, here with Ponte de diavolo, the Roman "Bridge of the Devil," near Biera in the Province of Viterbo, Italy. Abbracci amici.
© Gertrude Feick 2022
No comments:
Post a Comment