Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saint: Saint Peter Damian, Bishop, Doctor (1007-1072)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 18:1-6 The Order of the Psalmody

Mass: Sirach 2:1-11; Resp Ps 37; Mk 9:30-37 

The Lord watches over the lives of the wholehearted.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, PRAY FOR US.

Prepare yourselves for trials.

(Sirach 2:1)

They are inevitable, trials that is. And we might face more than a few over the coming days and weeks. The author of the Book of Sirach helps us to navigate all our trials, those that come from within and those from without. Saint Peter Damian too will help us as seen in a letter quoted below, where he writes some words of consolation to a brother embittered by many tribulations. Meanwhile, as Jesus predicts His passion for the second time, the disciples are busy arguing about which one of them is the greatest. If anyone wishes to be first he shall be the last of all and the servant of all (Mk 9:35).

The Scriptures reassure us: let your understanding strengthen your patience. In serenity look forward to the joy that follows sadness. Hope leads you to that joy and love enkindles your zeal. The well-prepared mind forgets the suffering inflicted from without and glides eagerly to what has been contemplated within itself.

(From a letter by Saint Peter Damian, bishop, in Office of Readings, February 21)

No evil can harm the man who fears the Lord; through trials, again and again he is safe.

(Sirach 33:1)

These words from the psalmist, echoed by Saint Benedict, may come in handy too. 

God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 18:1)

SAINT PETER DAMIAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Fun fact: I have been to Fonte Avellana, or the Venerable Hermitage of the Holy Cross in the Marche region of Italy, where our saint of the day Saint Peter Damian lived a monastic hermetical way of life.  The place is spectacular, even just the windy up and up and up bus ride to get there. As I recall, it snowed the day I was there with a group of other monks and nuns, who, like Saint Peter Damian, were of the Benedictine tradition.

Today's photo: This is an awesome close-up of the King penguins that you saw yesterday. They are busy incubating. They take refuge in Him.

© Gertrude Feick 2023