Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Bonaventure, Bishop, Cardinal, Doctor of the Church (1218-1274); Saint Swithun (-862); Saint Osmund of Salisbury (-1099)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 36 The Sick

Mass: Ex 3:13-20; Resp Ps 105; Mt 11:28-30

The Lord remembers his covenant forever. 

HEART OF JESUS, KING AND CENTER OF ALL HEARTS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus' words are few and oh so comforting: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Mt 11:28-30). Go to Jesus today with whatever is troubling you. And take with you in your heart those you know who are sick or suffering in any way, for Saint Benedict tells us: Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may be truly served as Christ" (RB 36:1). We are united in faith and prayer.

In God alone is there primordial and true delight, 

and in all our delights it is this delight that we are seeking.

(Saint Bonaventure)

When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth.

(Saint Bonaventure)

SAINT BONAVENTURE,

SAINT SWITHUN,

SAINT OSMUND OF SALISBURY,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: From our cloister flower garden. A marvel to behold.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 36 The Sick

Mass: Is 65:17-21; Resp Ps 30; Jn 4:43-54

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

JESUS, PATIENT AND FULL OF MERCY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel we have the royal official whose son was ill. After hearing that Jesus was in town, the official goes to Jesus, the Divine Physician, and asks Him to heal his son, who was near death (Jn 4:46-47). In today's passage from the Holy Rule, we have Saint Benedict's Chapter 36, on care of the sick. There, we read this: "Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, for He said: I was sick and you visited me, and, What you did for one of these least brothers you did for me (RB 36:1-3). However, "let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who serve them. Still, sick brothers must be patiently born with, because serving them leads to a greater reward. Consequently, the abbot should be extremely careful that they suffer no neglect" (RB 36:4-6). Our Lord is patient with us. We extend patience towards those we serve. United in faith and prayer, we go before the Lord and those who care for us with humility. 

AS FOR ME, I TRUST IN THE LORD. LET ME BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN YOUR MERCY, FOR YOU HAVE SEEN MY AFFLICTION.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

To experience Lent with love means caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned or fearful because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, March 15, 2021)

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Beautiful and fragrant Daphne. Thank you, MS. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021