Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saints: Saint Lutgardis of Aywieres, Cistercian Virgin (1182-1246); Saint Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 13:1-11 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days

Mass: Sirach 48:1-14; Resp Ps 97; Mt 6:7-15

The heavens proclaim His justice.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

The Church is buzzing with the Lord's Prayer today. It is fitting and right, as we know, for Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches us that the Lord's Prayer is the most perfect prayer. It contains all we need.

First, Jesus teaches us not to babble. Instead, Our Lords says, This is how you are to pray (Mt 6:9): 

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed by Thy name, 

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Second, in the Office of Readings this week, we have been learning from the bishop and martyr Saint Cyprian (210-258) in his treatise on the Lord's Prayer. With "the words: and forgive us our trespasses", he writes, we are "reminded that we are sinners and forced to ask forgiveness for our faults is prudent and sound. Even while we are asking God's forgiveness, our hearts are aware of our state! This command to pray daily for our sins reminds us that we commit sin every day. No one should complacently think himself innocent, lest his pride lead to further sin" (Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday). 

Third, in the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, we are immersed in the chapters on the liturgical code, that is, instructions on praying the Divine Office, the number of psalms to be prayed, at what time of the liturgical year, on what days of the week, and so on. Our holy father Benedict (c. 480-547) tells us that "the celebration of Lauds and Vespers must never pass by without the superior's reciting the entire Lord's Prayer at the end for all to hear, because thorns of contention are likely to spring up" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 13:12).

Fourth, one of our saints of day, Richard of Chichester, when Bishop of Chichester (1197-1253), made sure the faithful knew by heart the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary and Creed too.

And if that's not enough, one can always turn to our Catechism of the Catholic Church and read an excellent commentary on the Lord's Prayer in Part IV on Christian Prayer, paragraphs 2759-2865. It is there that we learn that "The Lord's Prayer 'is truly the summary of the whole gospel'" (CCC 2761).

The torch has been passed. It's up to us to carry it forward. Pray the Lord's Prayer today. Teach it to your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and whoever else too. 😊 Soon the world may be buzzing with the Lord's prayer. United in faith and prayer, we go forth. 

SAINT LUTGARDIS OF AYWIERES,

SAINT RICHARD OF CHICHESTER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: All peoples see His glory.

© Gertrude Feick 2022