Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Saints: Saint Fursa or Fursey (-c.650); Saint Joseph Vaz (1651-1711); Pope Saint Marcellus I (255-309); Saint Priscilla, Roman Matron (1st century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 3:1-6 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: Heb 5:1-10; Resp Ps 110; Mk 2:18-22

Sit at my right hand.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, KING OF GLORY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

All the earthly shall bow down before you, O God, 

and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Welcome to Monday and we know how Mondays go. Monday is Monday wherever one finds herself. Reflecting on what I might include in today's reflection, it came to me during Lauds when we sung Psalm (66) 67: "The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him." Thanks be to God. United in faith and prayer, we go forth. Thank you for being there, faithful readers. And one last thing (kind of ☺), today we commemorate Saint Priscilla, Roman matron of the first century. The catacombs of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria in Rome are awesome. They are full of frescoes, so well preserved they look like they were painted yesterday. One fresco is said to be the earliest image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then there is the one of the three young men in the fiery furnace, and ... Check those catacombs out if you get the chance. They are my favorite ones to visit. And the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Priscilla look after the sacred site. 

Try to gather more frequently to give thanks to God and to praise Him. For when you come together frequently, Satan's powers are undermined, and the destruction that he threatens is done away with in the unanimity of your faith. Nothing is better than peace, in which all warfare between heaven and earth is brought to an end. 

(From a letter to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr, 

in Office of Readings, Second Week in Ordinary Time, Monday) 

SAINT FURSA,

SAINT JOSEPH VAZ,

POPE SAINT MARCELLUS,

SAINT PRISCILLA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Near the path overlooking the Mattole River, last Friday. He guides me along the right path.

© Gertrude Feick 2023