Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Giles (c.650-c.710); Saint Margaret Redi of the Sacred Heart (1747-1770); Saint Simeon the Stylite (390-459)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 1-7 

Mass: 1 Cor 3:18-23; Resp Ps 24; Lk 5:1-11

Such is the race that seeks for Him.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MOTHER OF THE CRUCIFIED,

PRAY FOR US.

All belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

(1 Cor 3:23)

We begin anew in at least two areas on this Thursday.

First, welcome to September and the month traditionally dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows (or Dolours). And we welcome the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15. This month, then, we will invoke our Mother Mary with titles given her in the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows. We also celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the 8th and the Most Holy Name of Mary on the 12th. Throughout this month, we ask Mary to cover us in her protective veil.

Second, we are with the Prologue of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, commencing our third read through of the year. We recall from Ch 66, The Porter of the Monastery, that the rule is be read often in the community, so that none of the sisters can offer an excuse of ignorance (RB 66:8). We listen, then, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of our hearts (RB Prologue 1). Every time we begin a good work, we must pray to the Lord most earnestly to bring it to perfection (RB Prologue 4). United in faith and prayer, we go forth. They left everything and followed Him (Lk 5:11).

Seven Sorrows of Our Lady of Sorrows

The prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:34-35).

The flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-14).

The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple (Lk 2:43-44).

The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross (Lk 23:27)

The Crucifixion (Jn 19:18, 25-27).

The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross (Mk 15:43-46).

The burial of Jesus (Jn 19:41-42).

SAINT GILES,

SAINT MARGARET REDI OF THE SACRED HEART,

SAINT SIMEON THE STYLITE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More from our greenhouse of delight. The Lord's are the earth and its fullness.

© Gertrude Feick 2022