Saturday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint: Saint Pelagia the Penitent (4th century) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:59 Humility

Mass: Gal 3:22-29; Resp Ps 105; Lk 11:27-28

Sing to Him, sing His praise.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

PRAY FOR US.

For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. 

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

(Gal 3:26-27)

In haste on this Saturday dedicated to the Virgin Mary, we can learn what another great intercessor has to say. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) teaches us that "Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift." Furthermore, "we call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift" (in CCC 1216).* That should give us enough to absorb for one day. At the same time, we have been enlightened in our understanding. In Baptism, we received "the Word, 'the true light that enlightens every person,' the person baptized has been 'enlightened,' and becomes a son or daughter 'of light,' indeed, each one of us becomes 'light' himself" (CCC 1216). As sons and daughters of light, we are all one in Christ Jesus. United in faith and prayer, as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we go forth, with the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us hear the word of God and observe it (see Lk 11:28). What is one thing you will do today to share the most beautiful and magnificent gift of your Baptism and bring light to someone you meet? And since we are on the subject of Baptism, do you know the date of yours? If not, find out and celebrate this most precious gift. I believe, help my unbelief.

Truly it is a great consolation for Christians to know that we are so united ... Where there is faith, there is no distance in time or space, no parents, no children; only one thing exists, and that is God, and there we shall all end up sooner or later.

(Saint Rafael Arnaiz in The Collected Letters: Saint Rafael Arnaiz, p. 104)

All I can tell you about the Virgin Mary is this: in the world and in La Trapa and wherever I find myself, the Virgin has helped me in some way ... in a way only she knows how.

You don't have to be a saint to love her very much. Just do it, and you'll find that the thorns you come across on your path soften with Mary's help, and perhaps even become flowers.

No, Dolores, you don't have to be a saint to love Her, the consolation and refuge of sinners.

I assure you that with a little love for God and lots for the Virgin, even here on earth you'll have everything your Trappist cousin hopes for.

Whenever he comes to mind, I beg you, pray to Her for him.

(Saint Rafael Arnaiz, to his cousin, Dolores Baron Osorio, p. 224)

We too, pray to Her for one another. Mary, help of Christians, pray for us.

SAINT PELAGIA THE PENITENT,

PRAY FOR US.

* Friendly reminder: CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church. See 1216 for what else Saint Gregory of Nazianzus has to say.

Today's photo: For Our Lady. Glory in His holy name.

© Gertrude Feick 2022