Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

World Day of the Sick

Our Lady of Lourdes

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office

Mass: Gn 3:9-24; Resp Ps 90; Mk 8:1-10

The earth and the world were brought forth.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, HEALTH OF THE SICK,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

SAINT RAPHAEL,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, WHOSE MOTHER IS A MODEL OF MATERNAL DILIGENCE,

PRAY FOR US.

My heart is moved with pity for the crowd.

(Mk 8:2)

For the times when we are afraid and try to hide ourselves from the Lord Our God, may we reach out to Him who always looks for us, and loves us with an everlasting love. They ate and were satisfied (Mk 8:8).

And the man called his wife "Eve."

"Mother of all that live shall be her name,"

Said the man, when the Lord had judged their sin.

Somehow the curse and blessing are the same;

Bread shall they eat, though sweat cling to the skin;

In pain shall she bring children to the light,

And one shall crush the serpent's skull, to win-

Not the small grove whence they were put to flight-

New heaven and earth for man His foe, and friend.

Praise her then, in whose fruitful womb unite

Dust, and that life of Eden without end.*

OUR LADY OF LOURDES,

SAINT BERNADETTE OF LOURDES,

PRAY FOR US.

* Anthony Esolen, The Hundredfold: Songs for the Lord (Ignatius, 2019). pp. 51-52.

Today's photo: For Our Lady of Lourdes. Not the pale-yellow roses on the top of Her feet when she first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, this rose, courtesy of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, OR, is fitting. Our Lady, mystical rose, likes all flowers, especially roses. That we may gain wisdom of heart.

 © Gertrude Feick 2023