Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

July is the month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Our Lord

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 30 The Manner of Reproving Boys- Ch 35:11 Kitchen Servers of the Week  

Our eyes are fixed on the Lord.

BLOOD OF CHRIST, STREAM OF MERCY,

SAVE US.

MARY, MOTHER OF OUR SAVIOR,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, 

PRAY FOR US.

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.

(2 Cor 12:8)

Welcome to the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, in the month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Our Lord, and a week when we celebrate our holy father Saint Benedict, the principal patron saint of Europe as declared by Pope Saint Paul VI in the Apostolic Letter, Pacius Nuntius, October 24, 1964. Indeed, Saint Benedict was a "messenger of peace, maker of unity, the master of civilization, and especially the herald of Christianity and the author of monasticism in the West." And his voice continues to resound throughout all the earth. San Benedetto, prega per noi.

The second reading from today's Mass (2 Cor 12:7-10) is powerful. In fact. it is not a bad idea to read the entirety of Chapter 12 in Saint Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians. Paul went to the Lord and begged Him about the thorn in his side; Paul went to the Lord not one time, but three times. Lord, remove the thorn from my side; Lord, remove the thorn from my side; Lord, remove the thorn from my side. And what did Our Lord say? My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. Let that sink in. Power in weakness. How does Paul respond to the words of Our Lord? I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, then, in order that the power of Christ my dwell in me. I am content, says Paul, with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, I am strong. A question, then, is, "Who doesn't want the power of Christ to dwell in them?" The question is not so different from one Saint Benedict poses in the Prologue of his holy rule: "Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see good days?" (RB Prologue 15). Yes, we want the power of Christ to dwell in us. Yes, we yearn for life and desire to see good days. Go to Our Lord with your thorns, your weaknesses. His grace is sufficient for you. If you are going to boast, then, make your boast in the Lord, for His grace, for His power is made perfect in your thorny weaknesses. The love of Christ must come before all else ... prefer nothing whatever to Christ (RB 4:21/72:11).

For our voices of the week, we turn to the wisdom of our holy father Saint Benedict contained his Holy Rule.

The fourth step of humility is that in this obedience under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering and endures it without weakening or seeking escape. For Scripture has it: Anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved, and again, Be brave of heart and rely on the Lord.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:35-36)

Whenever we want to ask some favor of a powerful man, we do it humbly and respectfully, for fear of presumption. How much more important, then, to lay our petitions before the Lord God of all things with the utmost humility and sincere devotion.

(RB 20:1-2)

He will regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar, aware that nothing is to be neglected.

(RB 31:10)

Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may be truly served as Christ.

(RB 36:1)

Your way of acting should be different from the world's way.

(RB 4:20)

You must honor everyone.

(RB 4:8)

The younger monks, then, must respect their seniors, and the seniors must love their juniors.

(RB 63:10)

We go forth, then, united in faith in prayer, and "then with Christ's help, keep this little rule that we have written for beginners" (RB 73:8). May Christ bring us all together to everlasting life (RB 72:12). Amen.

BLESSED PETER TO ROT,

SAINT MAELRUAIN,

SAINT KILIAN,

SAINT AQUILA AND PRISCILLA,

SAINT WITHBURGA,

SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

THE MARTYRS OF GORCUM,

SAINT PAULINA OF THE HEART OF THE DYING JESUS,

SAINT LEO IGNATIUS MANGIN, PRIEST, MARY ZHU WU AND COMPANIONS, MARTRYS,

BLESSED JANE SCOPELLI,

VENERABLE AUGUSTUS TOLTON,

SAINT AMALBERGA, or SAINT AMELIA,

OUR HOLY FATHER SAINT BENEDICT, ABBOT,

SAINT JOHN JONES,

SAINTS LOUIS MARTIN AND MARIE AZELIE GUERIN,

SAINT VERONICA,

SAINT HENRY,

POPE BLESSED EUGENE III,

SAINT JOHN GUALBERTI, ABBOT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Pleading for His mercy.

© Gertrude Feick 2024