October is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary
Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 12 The Celebration of the Solemnity of Lauds - Ch 17 The Number of Psalms to Be Sung at These Hours
He refreshes my soul.
MARY, SINGULAR VESSEL OF DEVOTION,
SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,
PRAY FOR US.
Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
(Is 25:9)
Marching on in this month of October dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, we have more heavy-hitter saints to invoke this week kicking it off with the great Doctor Saint Teresa of Avila, who wrote, "Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you ..." Why is it that we let things disturb us though 🤔. Rather, why not take a moment to breathe in the Holy Spirit and breathe out the Peace the world cannot give. And Saint Teresa continues ...
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
It happens that I have been going through some old journals which has proven to be both fun and enlightening, among other things. Fun? A November 1997 entry found me in New Zealand where I wrote, "I've written 45 postcards with two left." Rest assured, I did much more than write postcards. ☺However, I love to write postcards (and cards and letters!) and receive them too (hint). Just last week I received three postcards from the state of Maine! Enlightening? A 2003 entry found me in the midst of this exchange. Voice 1: "I don't have time to myself. My personal life is non-existent. Why?" Voice 2: "Because you said 'Yes', Sister." "Yes," is a very powerful word, one voice commented just the other day. And as it relates to today's Gospel (see Mt 22:1-14), the Lord invites each of us to the daily feast. Do you accept the invitation? Does your "Yes" really mean "Yes", no matter what? So, we pray with Pope Francis and all the faithful gathered today in Saint Peter's Square for the Angelus Address, "May Mary, who with her 'yes', made room for God, help us not to be deaf to his invitations."
United in faith and prayer, we “rejoice and be glad that God has saved us" (Is 25:9). And as we go forth, we thank Saint Paul for his words of encouragement: "My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen" (Ph 4:19-20). Thy will be done.
Our voices this week come our great Saint and Doctor of the Church, Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, who influenced our beloved Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), also known as Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.* At the name of Jesus every knee should bend!
Oh, what a good friend You make, my Lord! How You proceed by favoring and enduring. You wait for others to adapt to Your nature, and in the meanwhile You put up with theirs!
(The Book of Her Life, Ch 8, 6)
Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else but an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.
(The Book of Her Life, Chapter 8, 5)
The important thing is not to think much but to love much.
(The Interior Castle)
Let us love the virtues and inward goodness, and let us always apply ourselves and take care to avoid attaching importance to externals.
(The Way of Perfection, Ch IV)
I mean that the King of glory will not come to our souls-that is, so as to united with them-unless we strive to gain the greatest virtues.
(The Way of Perfection, Ch XVI)
Although it is a great grace from God to practice self-examination, yet "too much is as bad as too little," as they say; believe me, by God's help, we shall advance more by contemplating the Divinity than by keeping our eyes fixed on ourselves, poor creatures of earth that we are ...
Our understanding and our will become more noble and capable of good in every way when we turn from ourselves to God.
(The Interior Castle, Ch 3, 8, 11)
Let the Christian be valiant.
(The Interior Castle, Chapter I, 13)
Getting used to solitude is a great help to prayer. Since prayer must be the foundation on which the house is built, it is necessary for us to learn to like whatever gives us the greatest help in it.
(The Way of Perfection, Chapter IV)
Humility, however deep it be, neither disquiets nor troubles nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy and tranquility.
(The Way of Perfection, Ch XXXIV)
SAINT TERESA OF AVILA, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH,
SAINT HEDWIG,
SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUES,
SAINT MARGARET D'YOUVILLE,
SAINT RICHARD GWYN,
SAINT GALL,
SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,
SAINT LUKE,
SAINT JOHN DE BREBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES AND THEIR COMPANIONS,
SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS,
SAINT PHILIP HOWARD,
SAINT FRIDESWIDE,
SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA,
BLESSED DAUDI OKELO AND JILDO IRWA,
SAINT BERTILLA BOSCARDIN,
SAINT HILARION,
SAINT GASPARE OF THE BUFALO,
BLESSED CHARLES OF AUSTRIA,
PRAY FOR US.
*NB. Check out the Holy Father's hot off the press issued today, October 15, 2023, Apostolic Exhortation to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth the great Doctor and Saint Therese of Lisieux, C'est la confiance It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love. See www.vatican.va. Go Little Flower ⚘ go!
Today's photo: For our viewing pleasure, my beloved bro Thomas captured this live while doing a little work in his yard, Indianapolis, Indiana, The Hoosier State. Raindrops keep falling on my head ... Sun and moon, bless the Lord, praise and exalt Him forever! Saint Thomas, Saint Anselm of Canterbury, pray for us.
© Gertrude Feick 2023
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