Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

August is the month dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament 

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 58 The Procedure for Receiving Brothers - Ch 62 The Priests of the Monastery

Glorify the Lord with me.

SACRED HOST, IN WHICH WE PARTAKE OF CHRIST,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,

MARY, GATE OF HEAVEN,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love.

(Ephesians 5:2)

Welcome to the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time in the month of August dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, fitting as we are in this Year of Mission spreading the Good News of Eucharistic love after the great Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. And this week is a doozy as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Glorious things are spoken of you, O Mary, who today were exalted above the choirs of Angels into eternal triumph with Christ. 

With the Blessed Mother leading the way, followed by the illustrious saints commemorated this week, how about we make it a week of no more murmuring. It is time to listen to Jesus and stop murmuring among ourselves (see John 6:43). Do not, as Saint Paul tells us, grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ (Ephesians 30-31). It's a tall task for the week; however, united in faith, love, and prayer, we can do it. What is one way you will go about this task, reaching out to someone who you would prefer just to ignore? Believe, dear faithful readers, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life, Jesus tells us, the living bread that came down from heaven, and whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world (See John 6:47-51). Get up, then, with Elijah, eat and drink and be strengthened for the journey to God (see 1 Kings 19:8). I believe, help my unbelief. 

And now our voices for the week, with a starter from our holy father Saint Benedict who tells us that the concern for anyone entering a monastery is whether the novice truly seeks God. We ask ourselves, then, do I truly seek God, day in and day out, no matter the hardships and difficulties that come my way, those things that will lead us to God? (Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch. 58).

Do not receive Christ in the Blessed Sacrament so that you may use Him as you judge best, but give yourself to Him and let Him receive you in this Sacrament, so the He Himself, God your savior, may do to you and through you whatever He wills.

(Saint Cajetan, Priest, 1480-1547)

There is no place for selfishness—and no place for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice. 

(Pope Saint John Paul II, 1920-2005)

Neither science nor speculation has made, or will ever make, a saint. Better to be an idiot capable of love, because in love he will sanctify himself.

(Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini "Mother Cabrini", 1850-1917)

I would become weak and languid and risk losing myself if I were to occupy myself only with exterior things, however good and holy those may be; or if I were to be without the sleep of prayer ... in the heart of my beloved Jesus. Give me, O Jesus, an abundance of mystical sleep.

(Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini "Mother Cabrini", 1850-1917, from her resolutions-the Prositi)

A heart filled with joy is more easily made perfect than one that is sad.

(Saint Philip Neri, 1515-1595)

Beg Jesus to speak incessantly to your soul. I assure you that His voice will teach you more in a single day than can the schools of learned men in many years ... I assure you that if you begin to be faithful to His voice, little by little you won't be able to withdraw from Him at all.

(Blessed Clelia Merloni, 1861-1930)

I no longer have any time for regular prayer, but from the first moment of the day, I endeavor to unite myself to Jesus Christ, and then I do whatever needs to be done with this union in mind.

(Saint John Vianney, 1786-1859, when asked for advice on mental prayer)

SAINT CLARE,

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI,

BLESSED ISIDORE BAKANJA,

SAINT MUREDACH,

SAINT ATTRACTA,

SAINT LELIA,

SAINT BLAAN,

SAINT FACHTNA,

BLESSED WILLIAM FREEMAN,

SAINT MAXIMUS,

SAINT ROCK,

BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI,

BLESSED MARIA SAGRARIO OF SAINT ALOYSIUS GONZAGA,

BLESSED ANGELUS MAZZINGHI,

SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL,

POPE SAINT PONTIAN,

SAINT HIPPOLYTUS,

SAINT MAXIMILLAN KOLBE,

SAINT STEPHEN OF HUNGARY,

SAINT HYACINTH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy.

© Gertrude Feick 2024