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

For the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Saints: Saint Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 22:13-19 Tardiness at the Work of God or at Table

Mass: Rev 14:14-19; Resp Ps 96; Lk 21:5-11

Then shall all the trees of the forest exalt.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

OUR LADY OF MONTILGEON,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Saint Cecilia kept the Gospel of Christ ever near her heart; day or night she never ceased praying and speaking with God.

(The Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer, Canticle of Mary, Antiphon, November 22)

We are blessed today as we are every day with the abundance of gifts God has bestowed upon us. Special today though as we commemorate Santa Cecilia, one of the saints invoked during the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) at Mass. We beseech God to admit us into the company of all His saints such as Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia ... We pray that God does not weigh our merits, but instead grants us pardon through Christ Our Lord. We pray to Saint Cecilia to cheer us on. We don't know much about her, and many stories have developed over the years. Saint Cecilia is associated with music and is the patron saint of music and musicians. It doesn't really matter whether or not Cecilia herself was a musician or singer or composer; her name sounds like music. Cecilia ... it rolls off the tongue quite melodiously. The Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome, is built over her house. It is a beautiful church and a popular sight for weddings. It is also where I bought my little statue of Saint Cecilia, one my treasures. May we, like Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr, remain faithful until death while singing God's praises. As Jesus tells us, I will give you the crown of life.

SAINT CECILIA,

SAINT MARY ELIZABETH HESSELBLAD,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Taken yesterday late afternoon, the view after I stepped outside. He comes to rule the earth.

© Gertrude Feick 2022