Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
Saints: Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs (early 20th century); Blessed Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861)
Readings of the Day
Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:44-62 The Tools for Good Works
Mass: Acts 16:1-10; Resp Ps 100; Jn 15:18-21
Serve the Lord with gladness.
MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,
PRAY FOR US.
Yearn for everlasting life with holy desire.
(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:46)
We wrap up this week with the ten newly formally canonized saints and plenty of others too, to intercede for us. We are blessed today to commemorate Christopher Magallenes and 24 other Mexican martyrs of the early 20th century, along with the founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, also known as the OMIs, French born Eugene de Mazenod. God is praised. At the same time, we continue to be immersed in Saint Benedict's chapter on the tools for good works. Among other tools to put to use today include "guard your lips from harmful or deceptive speech; prefer moderation in speech and speak no foolish chatter, nothing just to provoke laughter; do not love immoderate or boisterous laughter" (RB 4:51-54). Indeed, our way of acting should be different from the world's way (RB 4:20), as Jesus tells us today: If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me (Jn 15:20-21). United in faith and prayer, we keep going, no matter what. Jesus understands. Mary, help of Christians, pray for us.
Why search so hard for a heart that understands us and voice that knows how to speak to us of God and the soul, when the Heart of Christ is open to us and no one in the world knows how to love us and understand us as He does?
(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 171)
Our thoughts in this present life should turn on the praise of God, because it is in praising God that we shall rejoice for ever in the life to come; and no one can be ready for the next life unless he trains himself for it now. So we praise God during our earthly life, and at the same time we make our petitions to Him ...
We urge you to praise God. That is what we are telling each other when we say Alleluia. You say to your neighbor, "Praise the Lord!" and he says the same to you. We are all urging one another to praise the Lord, and all thereby doing what each of us urges the other to do. But see that your praise comes from your whole being; in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions.
(From a discourse on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, Fifth Week of Easter, Saturday)
SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES AND HIS COMPANIONS,
BLESSED EUGENE DE MAZENOD,
SERVANT OF GOD ELISABETH LESEUR,
SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,
SAINT MARIE RIVIER,
SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,
SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,
SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,
SAINT CESAR DE BUS,
SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,
SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,
SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,
SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: From Moni in Veringendorf, Germany. The Lord is good.
© Gertrude Feick 2022
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