Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Saints: Saint Marianne Cope (183801918); Blessed Henry Suso OP (-1366); Saint Emerenziana, Roman Martyr; Saint Ildefonsus, Bishop of Toledo; Saint Ementiana, Roman Martyr

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 5:14-19 Obedience

Mass: Heb 9:15, 24028; Resp Ps 98; Mk 3:22-30  

For the sake of your name, O Lord, give me life.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, PROTECTOR OF THE UNBORN,

JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, AUTHOR OF LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb He gave me my name.

(Is 49:1)

Welcome to Monday and in the dioceses of the United States of America, a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. We get down on our knees then and pray for "the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person through acts of abortion."* At the same time we pray for a greater respect for the dignity of the human person made in the image in likeness of God, from conception to natural death.

God our Creator,

we give thanks to you,

who alone have the power to impart the breath of life

as you form each of us in our mother's womb;

grant, we pray,

that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,

may remain faithful to this sacred trust

and constant in safeguarding the dignity

of every human life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

(Collect from the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life)

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.

(Lk 1:41)

SERVANT OF GOD JEROME LEJEUNE,

SAINT MARIANNE COPE,

BLESSED HENRY SUSO,

SAINT EMERENZIANA,

SAINT ILDEFONSUS,

SAINT EMETIANA,

PRAY FOR US.

*See General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 373)

Today's photo: I asked my cousin who lives a little further south if there might be a flower in her yard to use for today's reflection. This one, along with some others, has done pretty well in the "cold, cold weather." With the dark background, the yellow bursts forth, holding onto life. Thank you, dear cuz. ☺💗My God is now my strength!

© Gertrude Feick 2023