Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

The Month of December Dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ

400th Anniversary of the Death of Saint Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (August 21, 1567-December 28, 1622)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 70 The Presumption of Striking Another Monk at Will

Mass: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Resp Ps 124; Mt 2:13-18

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from a fowler's snare.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

(1 Jn 1:5)

UNTIL

(Hafiz, 1320-1389)

I think we are frightened every

Moment of our lives

Until we

Know

Him.

Herod certainly did not know Him. It may be a good day to ask Our Lord to remove the darkness in our hearts and help us to know Him better. No one is beyond fear, anger, or even the "furious rage" (Mt 2:16) of King Herod. With darkness in our hearts each one of us is capable of things better left unsaid. Saint John is clear: "If we say, 'we have fellowship with Him,' while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn 1:6-7). Let us not deceive ourselves then and acknowledge our sins. God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing (1 Jn 1:8-9). United in faith and prayer, with the grace of God, we go forth. Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us. 

In today's General Audience, Pope Francis asked all of us to pray especially for his 95-year-old predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who is very ill. The Vatican Press Office confirmed that "in the last few hours there has been an aggravation of his health due to advancing age." We pray then with the Holy Father, "may the Lord sustain him in this witness of love until the very end." The Pope Emeritus has led such a long and full life dedicated to God and the Church. Thank you, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

ALL HOLY INNOCENTS,

SERVANT OF GOD JEROME LEJUENE,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, 

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: From the archives, 2021. Just like the holy innocents, this bird is minding his own business, not bothering a soul. He was busy just being a bird. Just like those poor children, all of those boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under (see Mt 2:16). They were just busy being boys. Broken from the snare and we were freed.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 28 Those Who Refuse to Amend After Frequent Reproofs

Mass: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Resp Ps 105; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

HEART OF JESUS, FULL OF GOODNESS AND LOVE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Welcome to the First Friday of the Month. Our prayers are with Pope Francis and the Iraqi people during the Holy Father's Apostolic Visit to Iraq, March 5-8. One of my favorite customs of popes as they travel for an Apostolic Visit is to send messages of peace and blessing to heads of state of countries the papal plane flies over. On his way to Iraq, Pope Francis sent messages to Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan! 😊 For reflection then, how might you extend messages of peace and blessing to others today? And considering our readings at Mass, it seems a good day for such a gestures. 

We think of Joseph in the first reading from the Book of Genesis. I am reminded that as a child, one of may favorite books was Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors. I can see Joseph on the cover with a beautiful coat of vibrant colors. Joseph's brothers, so filled with jealousy and envy of their father's love for Joseph, wanted to kill Joseph and throw him into a cistern. Then there is the son of the landowner in the Gospel. He was seized and killed by tenants so filled with jealousy and envy. As we extend a message of peace and blessing to those we encounter today, especially to those with whom we have difficulties, may we remember Saint Benedict's tools for good works: Harbor neither hatred or jealousy of anyone, and do nothing out of envy (RB 4:65-67).

FOR JESUS KNEW THAT IT WAS OUT OF ENVY THAT THEY HANDED HIM OVER.

(Mt 27:18)

THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE; BY THE LORD HAS THIS BEEN DONE, AND IT IS WONDERFUL IN OUR EYES.

(Mt 21:42/Ps 118:22-23)

Today's photo: A garden shot taken yesterday afternoon.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 37 Care for the Elderly and the Young

Mass: Ws 2:1a, 12-22; Resp Ps 34; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL HIM

The wicked said among themselves

Let us beset the just one

he is obnoxious

he is the censure of our thoughts

to see him is a hardship

his life is not like others

different are his ways

with revilement and torture

let us put him to the test

let us condemn him to a shameful death

These were their thoughts; they erred

their wickedness blinded them

SO THEY TRIED TO ARREST HIM

NO ONE LAID A HAND ON HIM

HIS HOUR HAD NOT YET COME

In what ways are you blinded from recognizing Jesus in your midst?

You know me and also know where I am from.