Sixth Week in Ordinary Time/Ash Wednesday and the days following

February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family

World Day of the Sick

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office - Ch 14 The Celebration of Vigils on the Anniversary of Saints 

In whose spirit is no guile.

HOLY FAMILY, OUR SUPPORT IN LIFE AND OUR HOPE IN DEATH,

MARY, MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God ...

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

(1 Cor 10:31, 11:1)

Welcome, faithful readers, to the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time that takes us to Ash Wednesday and the days following, all leading to the First Sunday of Lent, still in the month of February dedicated to the Holy Family. The words from Saint Paul above are simply awesome. As Saint Benedict tells us too, in Chapter 57 of the Holy Rule, "The Artisans of the Monastery," whatever we do, we do "so that in all things God may be glorified" (1 Pet 4:11/RB 57:9). Folks, let's give it up for the Lord now, and during the upcoming holy season of Lent. So that in all things God may be glorified, let us refuse to indulge evil habits, devote ourselves to prayer with tears, read one book from cover to cover, look inside our heart with honesty and seek forgiveness, and deny ourselves some food, drink, needless talking and idle jesting. Just say "no" to idle chit-chat. We do these things and look forward to holy Easter with joy (see RB 49. The Observance of Lent). If you are going to boast, then boast in the Lord. All other boasting just might make us look ridiculous. Do everything in word and deed, then, for the glory of God alone. For this, we give God the praise.

And as I write on Super Bowl Sunday, our voices for the week begin with a member of the faithful who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Mr. Butler certainly has his priorities in order. By the way, do any of you remember the All-Pro fullback Christian Emeka Okoye, "the Nigerian Nightmare," who played for the Chiefs in the late 80s and early 90s? He was awesome too; he barreled through just about everyone, like a juggernaut. Go Chiefs. 😎. I could go on now forever on the glory days of the 70s too, with Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page of the Vikings, Kenny Stabler and Fred Biletnikoff of the Oakland Raiders, "Sweetness" Walter Payton and the Chicago Bears, Ken Anderson and the Bengals ... 

Dear Lord, guide all of us as we respond to the universal call to holiness and give You the glory.

I want to be a saint. And that's the most important thing. And that's why I'm here on earth.

(Mr. Harrison Butler, Kansas City Chiefs field goal kicker)

Blessed Pier also had his priorities in order. And he was no slouch when it came to athletics. In fact, Pier was all-around awesome. May he intercede for us. 

Learn to be stronger in spirit than in your muscles. 

If you are, you will be real apostles of faith in the Lord.

(Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, 1901-1925)

Preparation for Lent begins with desire. We exist to desire God. As Saint Augustine says, 'My heart is restless until it rests in Thee.' In this is the preparation for Lent: touching a desire for God that is deep down in the heart. Desire is like a flame, it starts small and it grows. Lent should fan our desire for God into a bonfire ...

(Servant of God Catherine de Heuck Doherty, 1896-1985)

Jesus is in the fire in the very center of our souls ever burning. Yet we are cold because we do not stay by it. Our look of love at Him draws back a look of love on us, and His divine love enkindles that fire of love in us which makes us remember Him continually.

(Mother Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

Lord, here are my hands.

Place in them what you will,

Take from them what you will,

Lead me where'er you will,

In everything-your will be done.

(Blessed Eduard Mueller, 1911-1943)

Prayer of Generosity

Lord teach me to be generous.

Teach me to serve you as You deserve.

To give and not count the cost.

To fight and not to heed the wounds.

To toil and not to seek to rest.

To labor and not to seek reward,

Except that of knowing I do Your will.

(Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556)

From another excellent novel with inspiration to keep going, no matter what ...

You know, when I was a kid back in Jamaica, my great-gramma used to say she was 'old but not cold.' She lived to her late nineties. To her last days, she was in the kitchen, baking raisin buns for us kids. She liked to keep busy, too.

(Terry to Tova in S. van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel, Ecco 2022, p. 316)

OUR LADY OF LOURDES,

SAINT GOBNAIT, 

SAINT JULIAN THE HOSPITALLER,

SAINT CATHERINE DE RICCI,

BLESSED REGINALD OF ORLEANS, OP,

SAINT METHODIUS,

SAINT CYRIL,

SAINT VALENTINE,

21 COPTIC MARTYRS OF LIBYA,

SAINT CLAUDE LA COLOMBIERE,

BLESSED NICHOLAS OF PAGLIA, OP,

SAINT ONESIMUS,

BLESSED JORDAN OF SAXONY,

THE SEVEN HOLY PROPHETS OF THE SERVITE ORDER,

SAINT FINTAN OF CLONENAGH,

BLESSED WILLIAM RICHARDSON,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. In other years, we would commemorate Our Lady of Lourdes. When was the last time you took a look at Pope Saint John II and his Apostolic Letter Salvifici doloris Salvific suffering, given February 11, 1984, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. One paragraph at a time. Our Lady of Lourdes, please cover us in your protective veil.   

Today's photo: Exult, all you upright of heart.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

October is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 7:34-58 Humility  

Teach me your paths.

MARY, MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL,

MARY, MIRROR OF HOLINESS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Ph 2:10-11)

Welcome to the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time and the month of October dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us. 

In this month loaded with heavy hitter saints including two Doctors of the Church and the beloved il Poverello to intercede for us as we respond to the universal call to holiness, our introduction comes from the Holy Father Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, 32, 34:

Do not be afraid of holiness. It will not take away your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when He created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity ... Holiness does not make you less human, since it is an encounter between your weakness and the power of God's grace. For in the words of Leon Bloy, when all is said and done, "the only great tragedy in life is not to become a saint."

So, our voices this week come from a great Saint who did not shy away from becoming one. I will turn things over, then, to the Little Flower, that is, Saint Therese of Lisieux, also called Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.* 

I understood that to become a saint one had to suffer much, seek out always the most perfect thing to do, and forget self. I understood, too, there were many degrees of perfection and each soul was free to respond to the advances of Our Lord, to do little or much for Him, in a word, to choose among the sacrifices He was asking. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I cried out, "My God, 'I choose all!' I don't want to be a saint by halves, I'm not afraid to suffer for You, I fear only one thing: to keep my own will; so take it, for 'I choose all' that You will!"

(Manuscript A, Chapter I)

Was not Jesus my only Friend! I knew how to speak only to Him; conversations with creatures, even pious conversations, fatigued my soul. I felt it was far more valuable to speak to God than to speak about Him, for there is so much self-love intermingled with spiritual conversations.

(Manuscript A, Chapter IV)

Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.

(Manuscript B, Chapter IX)

I feel the vocation of the WARRIOR, THE PRIEST, THE APOSTLE, THE DOCTOR, THE MARTYR. Finally, I feel the need and the desire of carrying out the most heroic deeds for You, O Jesus. I feel within my soul the courage of the Crusader, the Papal Guard, and I would want to die on the field of battle in defense of the Church.

(Manuscript B, Chapter IX)

Charity gave me the key to my vocation ... LOVE COMPRISED ALL VOCATIONS, THAT LOVE WAS EVERYTHING, THAT IT EMBRACED ALL TIMES AND PLACES ... IN A WORD, THAT IT WAS ETERNAL!

Then, in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my Love ... my vocation at last I have found it ... MY VOCATION IS LOVE!

(Manuscript B, Chapter IX)

Everything I have, everything I merit, is for the good of the Church and for souls.

(Epilogue)

And finally, some words from The Little Flower about three months before she died, words that certainly ring true:

I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission of making others love God as I love Him, my mission of teaching my little way to souls. If God answers my requests, my heaven will be spent on earth up until the end of the world. Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.

(Epilogue)

Beloved Saint Therese of Child Jesus and all of the holy ones commemorated this week, please help us to preserve our lives and live by turning away for all the sins that we have committed (See Ezk 18:27-28). Help us to do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than ourselves, each of us looking out not for our own interests, but all for those of others (See Ph 2:3-4). In faith and with prayer, may we be of the same mind, with the same love, and united in heart (See Ph 2:2). Keep going!

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX,

ALL THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS,

THE BLESSED MARTYRS OF SUSSEX,

SAINT THOMAS CANTILUPE,

BLESSED ANDRE DE SOVERAL AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA,

SAINT THEODORE GUERIN,

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI,

SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA,

BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS,

SAINT BRUNO,

BLESSED MARIE ROSE DUROCHER,

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY,

PRAY FOR US.

*All quotations come from Saint Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux Study Edition (ICS, 2005). This edition might be considered for a book club or discussion group. ☺ Another book to consider, perhaps as a companion book, or introduction to the Little Flower, is Heather King, Shirt of Flame: A Year with Saint Therese of Lisieux. In fact, I stumbled across that little gem while cleaning some shelves one day. It jumped out at me as happens sometimes; it turned out to be just the book I needed. 

Today's photo: In honor of “The Little Flower," she speaks again: "It seems to me that if a little flower could speak, it would tell simply what God has done for it without trying to hide its blessings" (Manuscript A, Chapter I).

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary

In other years: Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Prologue 14 - Ch 1 The Kinds of Monks  

Mass: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Resp Ps 63; Rm 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27

All my being, bless His holy name.

MARY, STRENGTH OF THE WEAK,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

(Romans 12:2)

Welcome to the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time and the month of September dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. And as Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron wrote to his uncle, "Given Mary, how could you not love God!!" So, through Mary, give God the praise!

To act on Saint Paul's words to the Romans quoted above, we certainly need the help of Saint Michael the Archangel, guardian of souls. Here is one way to respond, given by the late Father Bonaventure Perquin, O.P. (d. 1970): "We need to discipline our imagination and learn to live each day as it comes, remembering that God's will is infinitely wise, merciful, and tender, and that He unfailingly gives us the grace we need to accept His will, but only at the exact moment we need it. Then we really live by faith, trust, and love." In another place, Father Bonaventure said: "We must bend down and take up [our cross], as our Lord did, and not accept it passively. And it has to be our own cross too, not someone else's; carrying our own cross is how we work out the task planned for us by the Father." And as it turns out, as it often does, these are all ways to heed Jesus' words in today's Gospel: Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Mt 16:24-25). Not my will, Lord, but yours be done. Thankfully, the Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father's glory, and then He will repay all according to his conduct (Mt 16:27). I believe, help my unbelief. Amen.

Since we have the privilege and honor of commemorating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8th, all voices will be in praise of Our Lady. United in faith and prayer, and as "we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love" (Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 49). Mary, treasure of the faithful, pray for us.

The spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God.

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2502)

Surely we'd go mad if we truly loved Mary. By honoring the Virgin, we will love Jesus more. By placing ourselves under her mantle, we will understand divine mercy better. When we invoke Her name, it's as if everything becomes lighter. When we turn to Her as our intercessor, what will we not receive from Her Son, Jesus?

(Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron, 1911-1938)

Mary believed. It was demanded of her that she constantly renew this faith, that it might become ever firmer, more bare of supports-greater ... Every step the Lord took toward His divine destiny Mary took with Him-not in the way of understanding but in the way of faith.

(Romano Guardini, 1885-1968)

As sailors are guided by a star to the port, so are Christians guided to Heaven by Mary.

(Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274)

Love Our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace for you to help you conquer in your daily struggle. And the enemy will gain nothing by those foul things that continually seem to boil and rise within you, seeking to swallow up in their perfumed corruption the high ideals, the sublime determination that Christ Himself has set in your heart.

(Saint Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer Albas, 1902-1975)

My mother [Mary] is very strange; if I bring her flowers she says she does not want them; if I bring her cherries, she will not take them, and if I then ask what she desires, she replies: "I desire thy heart, for I live on hearts."

(Saint Joseph of Cupertino, 1603-1663)

In dangers

in hardships

in every doubt

think of Mary

call out to Mary.

Keep her in your mouth

keep her in your heart ...

With your hand in hers

you will never stumble.

With her protecting you

you will not be afraid.

With her leading you

you will never tire.

Her kindness 

will see you through to the end.

Then you will know 

by your own experience

how true it is that

the Virgin's name was Mary.

(Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153)

POPE SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT,

POPE SAINT BONIFACE I,

SAINT CUTHBERT,

SAINT MAC NISSI,

BLESSED DINA BELANGER,

SAINT HERBERT,

MOTHER SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA,

SAINT THOMAS ZUGI,

SAINT CLOUD,

BLESSED RALPH CORBY,

SAINT PETER CLAVER,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. Dear faithful readers, thank you for being there. Please have patience over the next couple of weeks as our website is undergoing process improvement. For now, laboratory tests are underway and the experts (that would not be me) are busy. No computer whiz, I just say, in God we trust. ☺ Keep going there and I will here. Ora pro invicem.

Today's photo: Taken some time ago, this one still reminds us to call upon the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. You are my help, in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

Saint: Saint Dismas the “Good Thief” (see Lk 29:39-43)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 45 Mistakes in the Oratory

Mass: Is 7:10-14; 8:10; Resp Ps 40; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38 

Your law is within my heart.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT GABRIEL, GOD IS MY STRENGTH,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF THE VIRGIN,

PRAY FOR US.

The Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,

and shall name Him Emmanuel, which means

"God is with us!"

(Is 8:10)

Welcome to the glorious Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. "Let's love God dearly ... love Mary dearly ... look to heaven ... sing ... go crazy"!* Amen.

Clearly that womb was blessed

even before it carried the Lord 

Day and night

with purest desire

and the longing of a holy and consecrated love

it prepared itself to bear its holy burden.

In the silence of her heart

Mary said to herself

Let Him kiss me with the kiss of His mouth.

There has never been another soul

or rather,

there has never been one of the blessed spirits

-not even from the most blissful

of the nine choirs-

that takes its name from the fire of charity

and refreshes the heat of its immense love

by the continual contemplation of eternity

and the ceaseless praise of the holy Trinity;

no, not even among the cherubim

has there been anyone

who made progress like her

in desiring and receiving this kiss.

To make her ready

for such great grace

from her mother's womb she was fashioned

by Him who establishes the heavens

and every single moment

during the successive stages

by which God established her

the fullness of grace was built up.

One day she would become

God's mother

and then an angel would call her

full of grace.

So her womb is blessed

in the very manner

 of its establishment

in blessedness

yet it is far more blessed when it

finally

in a divine and indescribable way

receives its most blessed burden.

Blessed indeed

yes, utterly blessed,

is that womb

 when it bore Him

when it formed Him

when it was in labor with Him

when it brought Him to birth.**

SAINT DISMAS the “GOOD THIEF”,

PRAY FOR US.

*Saint Rafael Arnaiz (1911-1938)

**John of Ford (1140-1214) in Mary Most Holy: Meditating With the Early Cistercians (Cistercian, 2003), pp. 275-277.

Today's image: Muttergottes im Kloster Melchtal. This sent by dear Sister M. Daniela, Prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Melchtal, Switzerland. The statue of the Mother of God is in their monastery at Melchtal, Benediktinerrinenkloster Nicklaus von Flue, where I have been numerous times. One time I walked from Kloster Maria Rickenbach to Kloster Melchtal, a 7 1/2 hour Spaziergang. Wunderbar! We remember in prayer, and ask the Patron of Switzerland, Saint Nicholaus of Flue, to intercede for the Benedictine Sisters of Maria Rickenbach, Melchtal, and Sarnen, and the monks of Engelberg too.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Wednesday before Epiphany

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Saint: Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, "Mother Seton," Wife, Mother, Foundress (1774-1821)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 21-32 

Mass: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Resp Ps 98; Jn 1:35-42   

The Lord comes.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, LOVER OF SOULS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always, and hope always, to prefer His will to every wish of my own.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton)

Today we have the privilege to commemorate the first native-born American to be canonized, Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton. Something Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick (1797-1863) said about Mother Seton speaks volumes: "Elizabeth Seton did more for the Church in America than all of us bishops together." With the Archbishop's tribute, we rejoice as Pope Saint Paul VI did, when he canonized Elizabeth Ann Seton, September 14, 1975. 

Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Saint! We rejoice and are deeply moved that our apostolic ministry authorizes us to make this solemn declaration before all of you here present, before the holy Catholic Church, before our other Christian brethren in the world, before the entire American people, and before all humanity. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a Saint! She is the first daughter of the United States of America to be glorified with this incomparable attribute! ...

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with spiritual joy, and with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she marvelously sprang forth as the first flower in the calendar of saints. This is the title which, in his original foreword to the excellent work of Father Dirvin, the late Cardinal Spellman [1889-1967], Archbishop of New York attributed to her as primary and characteristic: "Elizabeth Ann Seton was wholly American"! Rejoice, we say to the great nation of the United States of America. Rejoice for your glorious daughter. Be proud of her. And know how to preserve her faithful heritage.*

Behold a wise woman who has built her house. She feared the Lord and walked in the right path.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

PRAY FOR US.

*You will find this homily in its entirety on www.vatican.va. I am sorry that time does not permit me to tell you something about the life of our beloved "wholly American" saint. For more on the life of this powerful saint, please see the website for the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg MD (setonshrine.org). A nice summary of her life is found on the Catholic News Agency website (catholicnewsagency.com), "St. Elizabeth Ann Seton."

Today's photo: I found this sweet thing Monday afternoon and thought Mother Seton might like it. His holy arm.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

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

Saints: Saint Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916); Blessed Clementine Anuartie (1939-1964); Saint Alexander Briant (1556-1581); Saint Ralph Sherwin (1550-1581); Saint Edmund Campion (1540-1581)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 50 Brothers Working at a Distance or Traveling

Mass: Is 26:1-6; Resp Ps 118; Mt u7:21, 24-27

The gate is the Lord's. 

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.

(Is 26:4)

Welcome to December, the month dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ. Marana tha! Come, Lord, Jesus. And an added bonus is that it is the First Friday of the Month, a day devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.

Listen to the words of Jesus and act on them. United in faith and prayer, we build our houses on the Rock, Jesus Christ. Not my will, dear Father in heaven, but Yours be done (see today's Gospel).

Keep God's word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.

If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you.

(From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot, in Office of Readings, First Week of Advent, Wednesday)

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

BLESSED CLEMENTINE ANUARITE,

SAINT ALEXANDER BRAINT,

SAINT RALPH SHERWIN,

SAINT EDMUND CAMPION,

SAINT ELIZABETH MARY HESSELBLAD

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The gate to our grove. The just shall enter it.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Saints: Saint Chad (-672); Saint Cedd (-664): Pope Saint Evaristus (d. 107)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 19 The Discipline of the Psalmody

Mass: Eph 6:1-9; Resp Ps 145; Lk 13:22-30

The Lord lifts up all who are falling.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Let us consider how we ought to behave in the presence of God and His angels, and let us stand to sing the psalms in such a way that our minds are in harmony with our voices.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 19:6-7)

If we do the will of God from the heart (see Eph 6:6), we will enter through the narrow gate (see Lk 13:24). Jesus never said it was going to be easy. And as Saint Benedict tells us, "Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset" (RB Prologue 48). We pray for the strength to keep going. Not my will, Lord, be done, but Yours. 

Let us put on unity of mind, thinking humble thoughts, exercising self-control, keeping ourselves free from all backbiting and slander, being righteous in deed, and not in word only ...

It is our duty then to be eager to do good, for everything is from God ... He urges us, who believe in Him with all our heart, not to be idle or careless in any good work. Our boasting and our confidence must rest on Him. Let us be subject to His will.

(From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope, in Office of Readings, Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday)

SAINT CHAD,

SAINT CEDD,

POPE SAINT EVARISTUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Saints of the Day: Saints Chad and Cedd were brothers, both educated at Lindisfarne under Saint Aidan (d. 651). And a fun fact you've heard before is that I know a Chad and a Cedd, both Benedictine monks in the UK. 

Today's photo: This one from the archives, 2019. And raises up all who are bowed down.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 56 The Abbot's Table

Mass: Ezk 37:21-28; Resp Ps (Jer 31); Jn 11:45-56

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Christ was handed over, to gather into one the scattered children of God.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

In today's Gospel, Jesus leaves for the region near the desert. He remained there with His disciples (Jn 11:54). Jesus certainly spent the time in dialogue with His Father. Not my will, but yours be done. As we prepare for Palm Sunday of the Passion of our Lord and Holy Week, let us join Jesus and spend time in prayer. It may be good to keep the following words in mind, though, from Father Francis Mahieu, ocso (1912-2002): "Even when we recite a lot of prayers, we are not praying if we do our own will." Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name ...Thy will be done ...

We must sacrifice ourselves to God, each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the sake of the Word, imitating His passion by our sufferings, and honoring His blood by shedding our own. We must be ready to be crucified.

(From a homily by Saint Gregory of Nazianzen, bishop, in Office of Readings, Fifth Week of Lent, Saturday)

HEART OF JESUS, LOADED DOWN WITH OPPROBRIUM,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Today's photo: From yesterday, around 6:30 p.m. God is praised.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 49 The Observance of Lent 

Mass: Lev 25:1, 8-17; Resp Ps 67; Mt 14:1-12

The earth has yielded its fruits; God our God has blessed us. 

MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS,

PRAY FOR US.

We pray to Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint John the Baptist, to intercede for us so that we have the courage and faith to do whatever God asks of us. The following quotations are all attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. 

If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. 

It is true that the voice of God, having once fully penetrated the heart, becomes strong as the tempest and loud as the thunder, but before reaching the heart it is as weak as a light breath which scarcely agitates the air. It shrinks from noise, and is silent amid agitation.

Out of gratitude and love for Him, we should desire to be reckoned fools. Laugh and grow strong.

He who remembers the presence of God is less open to other thoughts, especially bad thoughts ... In two ways the presence of God is an antidote against sin. First because God sees us, and secondly, because we see God.

As too great care for bodily things is reprehensible, so reasonable care is to be commended to preserve health for the service of God.

SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA,

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Lily of the Valley bush at the monastery.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Month of May Dedicated to Our Lady and a “Marathon” of Prayer to End the Pandemic

Saints: Saint Augustine of Canterbury (-605); Bl. Andrew Franchi OP (1335-1401)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:5-9

Mass: Sirach 42:15-25; Resp Ps 33; Mk 10:46-52

For upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy.

AT GOD'S WORD WERE HIS WORKS BROUGHT INTO BEING; THEY DO HIS WILL AS HE HAS ORDAINED THEM.

(Sirach 42:15)

The above words from the Book of Sirach take me to fond memories of Sister Antoinette, OSB, of happy memory. I've shared this before yet it remains inspiring food for thought. It was one day some 21 years ago when Sister Antoinette and I were visiting in her office. It was quiet and she looked out of the window and said, "See that tree there? It is doing just what God wants it to do." One might say the same about the flowers in today's photo. May we be inspired by beauty that surrounds us, even if it be a tiny flower growing through the crack in the sidewalk, and do God's will as He has ordained each one of us. And if you find you can't manage to see any beauty around you, be bold with Bartimaeus in today's Gospel, and say to Jesus, "Master, I want to see" (Mk 10:51). And may Jesus respond, Go your way, your faith has saved you (Mk 10:51). Our Father who art in heaven ... may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

SAINT AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY,

BLESSED ANDREW FRANCHI,

SAINT JOSEPH,

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: These beauties are in our cloister flower garden. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Month of May Dedicated to Our Lady and a “Marathon” of Prayer to End the Pandemic 

Readings of the Day

RB: Prologue 8-13

Mass: 1 Cor 15:1-8; Resp Ps 19; Jn 14:6-14

Their message goes out through all the earth.

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."

(Jn 1:43)

If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.

(James 4:15)

Happy Feast Day! We turn to the Apostles Philip and James for inspiration and encouragement as we continue to seek God and respond to Saint Benedict's call in today's passage from the Holy Rule.

Let us get up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time to arise from sleep. Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge: If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts. And again: You who have ears to hear, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. And what does he say? Come and listen to me, sons; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 8-13)

SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES

SAINT JOSEPH, SERVANT OF CHRIST,

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: You have not seen this beauty from the Gorge. Compare it to the photo of Saturday, April 24th post. Our Lord is glorious on high.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 68 Assignment of Impossible Tasks
Mass: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Resp Ps 34; Ep 5:21-32; Jn 6:60-69

Master, to whom shall we go?