Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

September is the Month dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother

September 2: Labor Day

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week:  Prologue

Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice. 

MARY, ROCK OF CONSTANCY,

SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Listen with the ear of your heart.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 1)

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in your souls.

(James 1:21)

Welcome to the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time and the commencement of the month of September dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother. And tomorrow is Labor Day in our country. Let us honor all those who work in one way or another, those who seek to build a better society in their homes, families and communities. Here is something Andreas Widmer, a Swiss Guard under Pope Saint John Paul II, said about work: "Work can be liberating. It should infuse us with a purpose. It is a means of sanctification. This is the good news that we want to shout from the tallest skyscrapers and into the deepest valleys." So, in the words of our holy father Saint Benedict, every time we begin a good work, we must pray to God most earnestly to bring it to perfection (Prologue 4). Labor Day is also the unofficial end of summer. Many families and friends are together to celebrate. May all those who gather, gather in a spirit of good-will, seeking to spread the love of God with one another and all those they meet along the way. After all, we are doers of the word and not hearers only. Remember too, that we, although in the world, are not to be of the world. We go forth, then, and keep ourselves unstained by the world (James 1:27), and make our way of acting different from the world's way (RB 4:20). Bless the work of our hands and hearts; bless the work of our hands and hearts.

Let us make the best use of fleeting moments. They will not return.

(Saint Marianne Cope, 1838-1918)

Consider the immensity of my love: if you want to know it well, nowhere will you find it more clearly expressed than in the Gospel. No one has ever heard expressed stronger or more tender sentiments than these: As my Father has loved me, so I have loved you" (Jn 15:9).

(Jesus to Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn, 1241-1298)

Let us love our neighbors, my friends, let us love the one who is near us, so that we may be able to reach the love of the one who is above us. Then we shall reach the happiness of the heavenly multitude, the happiness of which we have received an assurance of the Holy Spirit. Let us move forward toward that goal where we shall be happy without end with all our love.

(Pope Saint Gregory the Great, 540-604)

In Mary ... all the saints have their model. Through the grace that is hers as mother she is able to form each of her children according to the image of her Son. For this reason there are no hopes that may not be fervently entertained by those who entrust themselves to Mary's guiding care.

(Father Marie-Michel Philipon, OP, d. 1972) 

Let us respond to the tremendous thirst of God by our loving trust in His love for us and total surrender to His will with joy. Let us turn to God with deep faith and love, repenting for our sins and begging for His mercy. Let us turn to each other also in love and trust, asking pardon for the hurt we have caused others and forgiving all the hurt we have received ...

(Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)

Thankfully, I was recently introduced to novelist Maeve Binchey, a great storyteller who knows something about character development. I've finished two of her novels so far, Night Class, and just yesterday, Echoes. The following voices come from the latter:

Clare in a conversation with her teacher, Miss O'Hara, who encouraged Clare:

"You could get anywhere you wanted, Clare, you know, if you didn't give up and say it's all hopeless. You don't have to turn out like the rest of them."

"I'd love to ... well, to get on you know," Clare admitted. It was out, this thing that had been inside for so long and never said in case it would be laughed at. "But it would be very hard, wouldn't it?"

"Of course, it would, but that's what makes it worth doing. If it were easy, then every divil and dirt could do it. It's because it's hard it's special."

"Like being a saint," Clare said, eyes shining.

"Yes, but that's a different road to go down. Let's see if you can get your education first. Be a mature saint, not a child saint, will you?" ...

"I'd prefer not to be a child saint all right. They're usually martyred for their faith, aren't they?"

"Almost invariably," Miss O'Hara said, nearly sweeping the statue of the Sacred Heart with her as she gathered her books for class.

Clare and her sister Agnes:

"There are some things that are neither right nor wrong. You can't have rules laid down for. Would you understand that?"

"Yes, Clare said immediately, "I would. Like the Holy Ghost."

"Like what?"

"Like the Holy Ghost. We have to believe in Him without understanding Him. He's not a bird and He's not a great wind. He's something though, and that should be enough without understanding it."

"I don't think that's the same at all," said Agnes, troubled. "But if it helps you to understand the problems of trade in a small town, then for heaven's sake use it."

SAINT GILES,

SAINT TERESA REDI OF THE SACRED HEART,

SAINT BEATRICE DA SILVA MENESES,

BLESSED ANDRE GRASSET,

JESUIT MARTYRS FOR THE NAME OF JESUS,

POPE SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT, SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD,

SAINT CUTHBERT,

SAINT MAC NISSI,

BLESSED THOMAS TZUGI,

BLESSED DINA BELANGER,

POPE SAINT BONIFACE,

SAINT HERBERT,

MOTHER SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA,

SAINT ZACHARY, PROPHET,

SAINT ONESIPHORE, DISCIPLE OF SAINT PAUL,

SAINT CLODOALD,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From a Spaziergang of some weeks ago. Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed.

© Gertrude Feick 2024