Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Saint: Saint Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 10 The Arrangement of the Night Office in Summer

Mass: Eph 1:1-10; Resp Ps 98; Lk 11:47-54

Sing to the Lord a new song.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, 

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him.

(Eph 1:3-4)

To reflect upon what Saint Paul writes to the Ephesians can be overwhelming and marvelous at the same time. United in faith and prayer, all the faithful, the laity and religious together have been chosen to be holy and without blemish before Him. We have our vocations, one this and another that. We can turn again to some of the documents promulgated at the Second Vatican Council for insight and encouragement.

Since the laity, in accordance with their state in life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apostolate in the world like leaven, with the ardor of the spirit of Christ ...

Since Christ, sent by the Father, is the source and origin of the whole apostolate of the Church, the success of the lay apostolate depends upon the laity's living union with Christ, in keeping with Lord's words, "He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing ...

Such a life requires a continual exercise of faith, hope, and charity. Only by the light of faith and by meditation on the word of God can one always and everywhere recognize God in Whom "we live, and move, and have our being" ...

This plan for the spiritual life of the laity should take its particular character from their married or family state or their single or widowed state, from their state of health, and from their professional and social activity. They should not cease to develop earnestly the qualities and talents bestowed on them in accord with these conditions of life, and they should make use of the gifts which they have received from the Holy Spirit.

(Apostolicam Actuositatem Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 2, 4)

Since the Church has accepted their surrender of self they should realize they are also dedicated to its service.

The service of God ought to inspire and foster in them the exercise of the virtues, especially humility, obedience, fortitude and chastity. In such a way they share in Christ's emptying of Himself and His life in the spirit ...

The monastic life, that venerable institution which in the course of a long history has won for itself notable renown in the Church and in human society, should be preserved with care and its authentic spirit permitted to shine forth ever more splendidly both in the East and the West. The principal duty of monks [and nuns] is to offer a service to the divine majesty at once humble and noble within the walls of the monastery, whether they dedicate themselves entirely to divine worship in the contemplative life or have legitimately undertaken some apostolate or work of Christian charity ...

Religious should remember there is no better way than their own example to commend their institutes and gain candidates for the religious life.

(Perfectae Caritatis Decree on Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, 5, 8, 24)

SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR,

POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII,

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Break into song; sing praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2022