Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

August is the month dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament 

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 63 Community Rank - Ch 66 The Porter of the Monastery

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

SACRED HOST, GREATEST AID TO HOLINESS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, MOTHER OF OUR MAKER,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Wisdom has built her house ...

"Let whoever is simple turn in here ...Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."

(Wisdom 9:1-6)

Welcome to the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, still in the midst of the month dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, have mercy on us.

It occurred to me during Lauds this morning that it is not difficult to be overcome with the riches of the Word. There has been so much week after week to hear, chew, reflect upon, and pray about. This is especially true as we make our way through Chapter 6 of Saint John's Gospel; Multiplication of the Loaves, Walking on Water, The Bread of Life Discourse, and next Sunday, The Words of Eternal Life. Do not give up: these sayings are difficult. With our faith, we seek understanding. Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that He will give is His flesh for the life of the world! Forever. Believe. Help our unbelief. When you receive Holy Communion throughout this week, pray for understanding. Unless we eat the true food and drink the true drink of the Eucharist, we will not have life within us! United, we profess our faith: I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

As we go forth with our voices for the week, rooted in the love of Christ, may we try to understand the will of the Lord, be filled with the Spirit, and address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in our hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father! Amen. (see Eph 5:15-20). Whew. ☺

The greater the malady He cures, the greater the glory of the Physician.

(Blessed Anthony Grassi, 1592-1671)

Keep your eyes upon God and let Him do His will.

(Saint Francis de Sales,1567-1622)

Even today, human beings have no control over storms at sea, and sometimes very little control over storms in the heart. Only God has the power to still the tempest without and the tempests within.

(Magnificat, August 13, 2024, Prayer for the Evening, Introduction to Psalm 107, p. 172)

What is a home? It is a place where I am loved, cared for, missed, accepted as I am, where I belong. This home is offered in the heart of Christ to each of us. He said, Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there (Mt 18:20) ...

(Servant of God Sister Ida Peterfy, 1922-2000)

O most benign and generous heart of Jesus, have mercy on all those who suffer ...

O loving Savior, arouse in me the feelings of Thy charitable heart toward all who come to me for help.

The heart of every man is attached to whatever is his treasure. Let us direct our life that all the affections of our heart may be concentrated on the greatest of all treasures, the most amiable Heart of Jesus.

(Saint John Eudes, 1601-1680)

If you follow Mary, you will not get off course; if you cry to her, you will not give up hope; if you think of her, you will not go astray.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153)

I was born poor, I lived poor, I die poor.

(Pope Saint Pius X, 1835-1914, final testament)

BLESSED GUERRIC, CISTERCIAN ABBOT,

BLESSED VICTORIA RASOAMANARIVO,

SAINT ALBERTO HERTADO CURCHAGA,

BLESSEDS JOHN-BAPTISTE DUVERNEUIL, MICHAEL-ALOYSIOUS BRULARD AND JAMES GAGNOT,

SAINT JOHN EUDES,

SAINT EZEKIEL MORENO,

SAINT OSWIN,

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, ABBOT, DOCTOR,

POPE SAINT PIUS X,

OUR LADY, MOTHER AND QUEEN,

SAINT JOHN KEMBLE,

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA,

SAINT EUGENE,

SAINT JOHN WALL,

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Welcome to Alaska. Photo courtesy of my beloved sister, Vicki, on an adventure with three of her girlfriends, including dear Kathy Kate! His praise shall be ever in my mouth.

© Gertrude Feick 2024