Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

For the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Saints: Saint Martin de Porres, Religious (1579-1639); Saint Winefride (6th-7th century); Saint Malachy (c.1094-1190); Blessed John Body (1549-1583); Blessed Rupert Mayer (1876-1945)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated

Mass: Ph 3:3-8a; Resp Ps 105; Lk 15:1-10

Sing to Him, sing His praise.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

(Ph 3:8a)

Only the third day of glorious November 2022, the month has been full. We continue to commemorate saints galore (don't forget to add another saint's name to your collection) and rejoice in the richness of the Word proclaimed. And today we hit the jackpot. In these days, we have been immersed in Saint Benedict's chapters on the penal code (Ch. 23-30). These chapters are important and have much to say about taking personal responsibility for our motivations and actions. If I am stubborn, disobedient, proud, or when I grumble in any way, despise the holy rule and defy the orders of the Abbess (RB 23:1), something has to be done. It all begins with me, however. Thankfully, the Lord is kind and merciful as proclaimed in today's Gospel when Jesus not only welcomes sinners and eats with them, but goes after the one lost sheep, finds it, sets it on His shoulders and rejoices (see Lk 15:2-6). Saint Benedict echoes this today, in his Ch 27 on the Abbot's concern for wayward brothers (RB 27:1). It is the abbot's responsibility to have great concern and to act with all speed, discernment and diligence in order not to lose any of the sheep entrusted to him (see RB 27:5). Yes, the abbot is to imitate the loving example of the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep in the mountains and went in search of the one sheep that had strayed (see RB 27:8). There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Lk 15:10). Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us.

The example of Martin's life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us ...

Saint Martin, always obedient and inspired by his divine teacher, dealt with his brothers with that profound love which comes from pure faith and humility in spirit. He loved men because he honestly looked at them as God's children and as his own brothers and sisters. Such was his humility that he loved them even more than himself and considered them to be better and more righteous than he was.

(From a homily at the Canonization of Saint Martin de Porres by Pope Saint John XXIII in Office of Readings, November 3)

Take note: Buon viaggio to the Holy Father Pope Francis. Papa Francesco is on his 39th Apostolic Journey abroad, to the 58th country he has visited, this time the Kingdom of Bahrain. In preparation for his journey, the Holy Father visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome for the 100th time since the start of his pontificate. There, as is customary, he spent some time in prayer before the icon of Maria Solus Populi Romani. Mary, health of the Roman People, pray for us.

SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES,

SAINT WINEFRIDE,

SAINT MALACHY,

BLESSED JOHN BODY,

BLESSED RUPERT MAYER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Glory in His holy name.

© Gertrude Feick 2022