Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

November is the month dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 29 Readmission of Brothers Who Leave the Monastery - Ch 34 Distribution of Goods According to Need

O Lord, my heart is not proud.

Those who endure the greatest suffering, 

my Jesus, mercy!

MARY, QUEEN OF THE HUMBLE OF HEART,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Has not the one God created us?

(Malachi 2:10)

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

(Mt 23:12)

Welcome to the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time and the month of November dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. 

There is plenty for us to do this week. One is to humble ourselves and be busy about serving others, whether we are in the mood or not. I already passed along these words from Mother Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997); however, they are clear: "If you are truly humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are." And that is what we are now, children of God made in the image and likeness of the one, living and true God. As children, we declare boldly: "By God's grace I am what I am (1 Cor 15:10), and again, "he who boasts should make his boast in the Lord" (2 Cor 10:17)/Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 31-32. 

And remember, the word of God is now at work in you who believe (see Th 2:13). I believe, help my unbelief. 

Now our voices for the week as we keep the faith and respond to the universal call to holiness. We begin with Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), to help us as we pray for the dying and the already deceased, those who die alone and suffer alone in purgatory with no one on earth to pray for them. And this is one reason why I ask a dying person not to forget me and help me get to Heaven to join them. Give God the praise. 

The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He may mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For those blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them.

Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints.

(Pope Saint Clement I, d. 99)

In everything, do that which will make God loved the more.

(Blessed Frances d’Amboise, 1427-1485)

My fellow Christians, do we wish to celebrate joyfully the birth of this temple [the Lateran Basilica]? Then let us not destroy the living temples of God in ourselves by works of evil. I shall speak clearly, so that all can understand! Whenever we come to church, we must prepare our hearts to be as beautiful as we expect this church to be. Do you wish to find this basilica immaculately clean? Then do not soil your soul with the filth of sins. Do you wish this basilica to be full of light? God too wishes that your soul not be in darkness, but that the light of good works shine is us, so that He who dwells in the heavens will be glorified. Just as you enter this church building, so God wishes to enter your soul, for He promised: I shall live in them, and I shall walk the corridor of their hearts.

(From a sermon by Saint Caesarius of Arles, d. 542, in Office of Readings, November 9)

Invisible in His own nature [God] became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, He chose to come within our grasp.

(Pope Saint Leo the Great, d. 461)

Here was a man [Saint Martin of Tours] words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He was quite without a preference of his own; he neither feared to die nor refused to live. With eyes and hands always raised to heaven he never withdrew his unconquered spirit from prayer ... he left this life a poor and lowly man and entered heaven rich in God's favor.

(From a letter by Sulpicius Severus, 363-425, in Office of Readings, November 11)

The human mind is prone to pride when not supported by power; how much more, then, does it exalt when it has that support.

(Pope Saint Gregoy the Great, d. 604)

The lively consideration of graces received makes us humble 

because knowledge of them excites gratitude.

(Saint Francis de Sales, 1567-1622, Introduction to the Devout Life, IV, 5)

Whoever needs less should thank God and not be distressed, but whoever needs more should feel humble because of his weakness, not self-important because of the kindness shown to him.

(The Rule of Saint Benedict, 34:2-4, Distribution of Goods According to Need)

Hold the cross high so I may see it through the flames!

(Saint Joan of Arc, 1412-1431)

BLESSED FRANCES D'AMBOISE,

SAINT JEAN-THEOPHANE VENARD,

SAINT ENGELBERT,

ALL THE SAINTS OF IRELAND,

ALL SAINTS OF AFRICA,

SAINT ILLTUDE OR ILLTYD,

SAINT NUNO ALVARES PEREIRA,

BLESSED JOSEPH GIRBES,

SAINT WILLIBRORD,

ALL SAINTS OF WALES,

BLESSED GEORGE NAPIER,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY,

SAINT JOHN,

POPE SAINT LEO THE GREAT,

SAINT MARTIN OF TOURS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I walk by this little beauty more than once a day. Thankfully, no creature great or small has managed to eat it. Give God the praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2023