Monday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Emily de Rodat (1787-1852); Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr (early 4th century); Saint Theodore of Tarsus (601-690)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:22-43 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Proverbs 3:27-34; Resp Ps 15; Lk 8:16-18

The just one shall live on your holy mountain.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, HELP OF THE NEEDY,

PRAY FOR US.

To the humble the Lord shows kindness.

(Pr 3:34)

Welcome to Monday and this one is a day to let your light shine so that others come to know the Light through your light. 🌞

Why not grab a tool or two from Saint Benedict's Tools for Good Works for help, with a friendly reminder that our "way of acting should be different than the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else" (RB 4:20-21). Any one of these tools will keep us busy enough. What is your tool of choice today?

You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge.

Rid yourself of all deceit.

Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away from someone who needs your love.

Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false.

Speak the truth with heart and tongue.

Do not repay one bad turn for another.

Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently.

Love your enemies.

If people curse you, do not curse them back but bless them instead.

Endure persecution for the sake of justice.

You must not be proud, nor be given to wine.

Refrain from too much eating or sleeping, and from laziness.

Do not grumble or speak ill of others.

Place your hope in God alone.

If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself, but be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:22-43)

Whew! 😓

My Redeemer has a claim upon my love, and I do not forget how He questioned Peter, and asked: Do you love me, Peter? Then feed my sheep. He asked this once, then again, then a third time. He inquired about his love, and then He gave him work to do; for the greater one's love is, the easier the work.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, September 19)

Love Himself gives love to us so that we might love with that Love. 

The world was transformed by the light of this love.

(Dr. Matthew Minerd, from Made by God, Made for God: Catholic Morality Explained, in Magnificat, Meditation of the Day, September 18, 2022, p. 276)

The lamp of faith will always be lit on earth as long as there is the oil of prayer.

(Vatican News, @PONTIFEX, September 19, 2022)

SAINT EMILY DE RODAT,

SAINT JANUARIUS,

SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From the area near Mount Adams in southern Washington, see Mount Ranier in the distance. Catherine reports that Mount Adams looks a LOT like Rainier! 

© Gertrude Feick 2022