Saturday after Ash Wednesday

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saint Ethelbert (c.560-616); Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani (1806-1855); Saint Walburga (-776)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 19 The Discipline of Psalmody

Mass: Is 58:9b-14; Resp Ps 86; Lk 5:27-32

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, CAUSE OF OUR JOY,

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

OUR LADY OF SNOWS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the sabbath a delight, and the Lord's holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice-

Then you shall delight in the Lord.

(Is 58:13-14)

On this Saturday after Ash Wednesday and we get ready for the First Sunday of Lent, it may be good to take the words above from the Prophet Isaiah to heart.* Consider how you are doing so far in your preparation for Easter. Maybe a tweak here or there will help. How can you more fully adhere to Jesus for all the help you need and pray to His mother Mary to help you respond to Jesus' call, Follow me (Lk 5:27). And at the same time remember that Jesus is here for the sick; He did not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners (Lk 5:31-32). Kyrie eleison.

On Sunday all are to be engaged in reading except those who have been assigned various duties.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 48:22)

This is the glory of man: to persevere and remain in the service of God. For this reason the Lord told His disciples: You did not choose me but I chose you. He meant that His disciples did not glorify Him by following Him, but in following the Son of God they were glorified by Him. As He said: I wish that where I am they also may be, that they may see my glory.

(From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop, in Office of Readings, Saturday after Ash Wednesday)

SAINT ETHELBERT,

BLESSED MARIA ADEODATA PISANI,

SAINT WALBURGA,

PRAY FOR US.

* Another rich source for reflection is Pope Saint John Paul II and his Apostolic Letter Dies Domini The Lord's Day, of May 31, 1998. It can be found on www.vatican.va along with many other papal documents.

Today's photo: You are my God.

© Gertrude Feick 2023