Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

For the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Saints: Blessed Bernard Francis de Hoyos (1711-1735); Blesseds Denis and Redemptoris (d. 1638); Saint Sernin (or Saturninus) of Toulouse, First Bishop of Toulouse, Martyr (3rd century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 48:22-25 The Daily Manual Labor

Mass: Is 11:1-10; Resp Ps 72; Lk 10:21-24

Justice shall flower in His days.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

OUR LADY OF MONTILGEON,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord.

(Is 11:9)

We are busy this First Week of Advent rising from any slumber we might find ourselves in. We are also busy with Saint Benedict's Chapter 48 on the Daily Manual Labor. Organizing our days with times for prayer, manual labor, and reading help us to seek the things that are above (see Col 3:1), ordering our lives on the search for God who is always searching for us throughout the daily this and that. As Saint Benedict writes, "Idleness is the enemy of the soul" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 48:1). We don't want to be "remiss or indolent" (RB 48:23), and especially during these days of Advent, a "period of devout and expectant delight" (Norms on the Liturgical Year). We need not be among the wise and learned to praise the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for the glory of God is revealed to the childlike (see Lk 10:21). United in faith and prayer, we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, to help us renew the sense of awe and wonder of the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him (Lk 10:21-22).

My past, O Lord, to your mercy; my present, to your love; my future to your providence.

(Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Padre Pio, 1887-1968)

BLESSED BERNARD FRANCIS DE HOYOS, 

BLESSEDS DENIS AND REDEMPTORIS,

SAINT SATURNINUS OF TOULOUSSE,

SAINT MARY ELIZABETH HESSELBLAD,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Let things fall where they will. May his name be blessed forever.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saint: Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:10-18 Humility

Mass: Zechariah 8:1-8; Resp Ps 102; Lk 9:46-50

Learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart.

In today's Gospel Jesus takes a child and places it by His side. Then Our Lord says to the disciples, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest (Lk 9:48). All one needs to do is take a look at the child in this photo and see why Jesus placed a child at His side. Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Lk 18:16). May we be so gentle and humble of heart. 

The first step of humility is to cherish at all times the sense of awe with which we should ever turn to God

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 7:10)

Humility Revisited

by Christine Rodgers

Forgive 

my stubborn

insistence 

on self

that great

insolence 

in me.

Help me

understand

that You will

bring

all things to good.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: My grandniece, Miss Vivian James, just turned three.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

The Childlike

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Nelson Mandela Day

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 39 The Proper Amount of Food
Mass: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16; Resp Ps 94; Mt 11:25-27

Although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned you have revealed them to the childlike.