Third Week in Ordinary Time

January is the month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Sunday of the Word of God

January 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 22: Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish" (Saint Teresa of Calcutta).

January 27: Interviews Holocaust Remembrance Day

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 4:63 The Tools for Good Works - Ch 7:18 Humility

Good and upright is the Lord.

JESUS, OUR WAY AND OUR LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, VIRGIN MOST PRUDENT,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The world in its present form is passing away.

(1 Cor 7:31)

Welcome to the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, on the Sunday of the Word of God, still in the week of prayer for Christian Unity, with January 22 as a day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children, all in the month of January dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, and the inauguration of a Year of Prayer in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year! Whew. And if that is not enough, beloved Jonah is on the move through the enormously large city of Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-5, 10). May we, great and small alike, follow the people of Nineveh and believe God. May the dear Lord see by our actions that we are about turning from our evil ways. It is never too late to repent and believe in the Gospel, as Saint Cyprian of Carthage (d. 258) tells us: "To him who remains in the world, no repentance is too late. The approach to God's mercy is open." 

United in faith and prayer, we untangle the nets that ensnare us, abandon everything and follow the Lord. May Our Lady cover us in her protective veil.

And now a word from our sponsors in the manner of voices for the week:

Harbor neither hatred nor jealousy of anyone.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:65-66)

Silence is good for the soul, essential to recollection, and conducive to humility. Remember Our Lord's silence throughout His life and during the hours of His Passion.

When I am in the company of others, for their good, I will talk freely on exalted and serious subjects, the discussion of which cannot fail to enlarge and strengthen both my own soul and theirs.

I will talk about nothing trivial and mean, and no petty grievances. My speech shall be recollected, and my silence living.

(Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur, 1866-1914)

There is a time to keep silence and a time for speech. Christ, the wisdom of God, has given us an example of both. We must not speak, so as to give advantage to cavils, we must not be silent as to betray the truth.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

Run, jump, shout, but do not sin.

(Saint John Bosco, 1815-1888)

We must speak to them with our hands before we speak to them with our lips.

(Saint Peter Claver, 1580-1654)

There is no love without renunciation.

(Saint Josemaria Escriva, 1902-1975)

There can be no doubt that for us who love Jesus, prayer is the great pain-reliever.

(Saint Josemaria Escriva, 1902-1975)

We need not do a great deal of thinking to appreciate what Jesus has been for us. We need only recall some of the happy memories of our lives and, full of gratitude and love, we shall realize some of what we owe Him ... God grants His grace to souls not because they merit it, but because He wants to.

(Blessed Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, 1861-1937)

And a couple more on the importance of reading, and writing too!

I’ve always loved to read, long before I began to write. If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write.

(Stephen King, b. 1947)

I kept always two books in my pocket: one to read, one to write in.

(Robert Louis Stevenson, 1815-1894)

SAINT MARIA GABRIELLA SAGHEDDU,

SAINT AGNES,

SAINT NINO,

SAINT PUBLIUS,

BLESSED ANTHONY DELLA CHIESA,

BLESSED HENRY SUSO,

SAINT TITUS AND TIMOTHY, BISHOPS,

SAINT ANGELA MERICI,

SAINT VINCENT, DEACON,

SAINT MARIANNE COPE,

BLESSED BENEDETTA BIANCHI PORRO,

SAINT DAMIAN OF MOLOKAI,

SAINT ILDEPHONSUS

SAINT EUGENIUS,

SAINT LEOCADIA,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL,

SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE,

SAINT ALBERIC, ROBERT, AND STEPHEN, ABBOTS, FOUNDERS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: It was raining cats and dogs when this one appeared, from July 10, 2019. By the way, it is still raining cats and dogs. 🐈🐶

© Gertrude Feick 2024