Friday of the Thirty-Fourth, or Last, Week in Ordinary Time

For the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Saints: Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin, Martyr (d. 305); Saint Colman of Cloyne (522-600)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 46 Faults Committed in Other Matters

Mass: Rev 20:1-4, 11:21:2; Resp Ps 84; Lk 21:29-33

Consider the fig tree.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

OUR LADY OF MONTILGEON,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

(Lk 21:33)

With Jesus' words above, we are comforted and strengthened. There is no need to let our hearts be troubled, as Jesus tells us, You have faith in God; have faith also in me (Jn 14:1).

We are also comforted by Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who covers us in her protective veil. Yesterday I wrote about beginning a novena to Our Lady of Vailankanni, Our Lady of Good Health. A shrine dedicated to her is found in Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu, India. Unable to include the prayer yesterday, I include it today, day two of the novena. It's never too late to pray for the sick and infirmed, for health of mind and body. Mary, mother of health and our heavenly queen, pray for us. 

O Mary! Our Mother of Health and Our Heavenly Queen, we praise and honor you to be our refuge and relief. Relying on your power and goodness, we fly to you and implore you to heal infirmities and to obtain for us health of body and soul. At all times you have been the help and consolation of the sick. You obtain for them health, when it is conducive to their salvation. You assist them at time of their death. Help them O most amiable Mother and obtain for us cure from all sufferings, or patience to endure them in the spirit of resignation agreeable to God's holy will, so that all our trials and sufferings may help to purify our souls and help us to one day enter into eternal joy with you and your Divine Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA,

SAINT COLMAN OF CLOYNE,

SAINT MARY ELIZABETH HESSELBLAD,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: About our fig tree, it has shed its leaves for the season. My king and my God!

© Gertrude Feick 2022