January 2026

Jubilee Year of Saint Francis on the 800th Anniversary of His Death 

January is the month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

January 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity "There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling"

At the Name of Jesus, every knee should bend.

MARY, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, BRIGHTNESS OF ETERNAL LIGHT,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

JESUS, INFINITE GOODNESS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

JESUS, MOST POWERFUL,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Dear faithful readers, welcome to January, the month dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, and entry into the calendar year 2026. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us. However, let us not be hasty about leaving the Christmas Season behind. May we keep on celebrating Christmas until February 2, when we commemorate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. also called Candlemas. When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ... The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him (Luke 2:22, 40). 

And we kick off the new calendar year on January 1 with the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, a fitting way to get things started, under the protective veil of Our Lady, the Holy Mother of God. At the same time, January 1 is the World Day of Peace with the theme “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.” 

Wisdom from above is first of all innocent. It is also peaceable, lenient, docile, rich in sympathy and the kindly deeds that are its fruits, impartial and sincere. The harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

(James 3:17-18)

We have the option to celebrate (and who wouldn't) the Most Holy Name of Jesus on January 3. Jesus, Son of Justice, have mercy on us. On Sunday, January 4, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, so let us come with gifts to adore the Lord. After a week of "Days after Epiphany," we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday, January 11. On Monday, January 12, we enter the First Week of Ordinary Time. And then there is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22. On Sunday, January 25, we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God, a celebration instituted by Pope Francis, a day devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God. In between these times, there are several heavy hitter saints to commemorate, for example, Saint Cnut the Duke, a Martyr! So get ready folks, it is another busy month, especially with the commemoration of The Translation of the Black Nazarene, an image enshrined in the Church at Quiapo, Philippines and the Feast of Santo Nino. And lastly, if you haven’t picked up your copy of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict in some time, now is the time to pick it up and start again with the Prologue to commence the first of three read throughs for 2026. If we keep to daily reading of and reflection on the Holy Rule, by the end of January we will have made it all the way to Chapter 7, "Humility," verse 34. Listen then, with the ear of your heart.

It occurred to me the other morning that together, united as we are in faith and prayer, we could consider two New Year's resolutions. First, how about making friends with a saint this year, or some other person you admire, like a pope or spiritual writer. Read things first, if available, written by him or her. Then things written about him or her. And if the person wrote letters, read some of them. I will spend the year becoming better friends with Saint Therese of Lisieux, "The Little Flower." In fact, I am already busy with her Story of a Soul, and a marvelous book by Ida Friederike Gorres, The Hidden Face: A Study of St. Therese of Lisieux. Who will your friend be this year? Or who is it that you want to become better friends with? 

Second, you might make friends with a psalm. As Cardinal Basil Hume (1923-1999) of happy memory once said, "look for friends among the psalms ... mull over [one of them] during mental prayer ... make it your friend." Are there particular words from the psalmist that sing to you? Then how about memorizing the psalm ... there are 365 days to practice. A favorite psalm of mine, one that has been a favorite since childhood, is Psalm 127, especially the first verse: Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it. In the home where I was raised, there was a framed print of Psalm 127:1 that hung in the breezeway, a place that pretty much anyone who came to our house passed. The words of the psalmist were formative not only for our family, but for countless friends and neighbors too. More recently, Psalm 70 has had a sweet melody, melody sung in perfect pitch.

It is you, O Lord, who are my hope,

my trust, O Lord, since my youth.

On you have I leaned from my birth,

from my mother's womb you have been my help,

My hope has always been in you.

(Psalm 70:5-6)

Now with our voices. The first is one of my favorites from Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a voice that is fitting for this month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.

Write what you will, I shall not relish it unless it tells of Jesus. Talk or argue about what you will, I shall not relish it if you exclude the name of Jesus. Jesus to me is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, a song in the heart.

Again, it is medicine. Does one of us feel sad? Let the name of Jesus come into his heart, from there let it spring to his mouth, so that shining like the dawn it may dispel all darkness and make a cloudless sky. Does someone fall into sin? Does his despair even urge him to suicide? Let him invoke this life-giving name and his will to live will once be renewed ...

(Bernard of Clairvaux, 1050-1193, On the Song of Songs, 15:III, 6-IV, 7)

And from The Little Flower ...

Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature; I understood how all the flowers He has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the Lily do not take away the perfume of the violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers.

And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus' garden. He willed to create great souls comparable to Lilies and roses, but He has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God's glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.

(Saint Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897, Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, Ch. I)

And finally, we hear from our holy father Saint Benedict, from his Holy Rule, all words to inspire and encourage us as we enter a new year, a new beginning ...

First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to God to bring it to perfection.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 4)

Let us get up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Romans 13:11). 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 (Psalm 94:8).

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 8-9)

But 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)

Your way of acting should be different from the world's way;

the love of Christ must come before all else.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:20-21)

Place your hope in God alone.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:41)

God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 5:16)

In a flood of words you will not avoid sin (Proverbs 10:19) ... The tongue holds the key to life and death (Proverbs 18:21) ... We absolutely condemn in all places any vulgarity and gossip and talk leading to laughter, and we do not permit a disciple to engage in words of that kind.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 6:4-5, 8)

I have not come to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me (John 6:38).

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 7:32)

For all the saints, pray for us!

SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZEN,

SAINT GENEVIEVE,

SAINT MUNCHIN, 

SAINT KURIAKOSE ELIAS CHAVARA,

BLESSED STEPHANA QUINZANI OP,

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

SAINT JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP,

SAINT CNUT THE DUKE, MARTYR,

SAINT NATHALAN,

SAINT PETER THOMAS,

SAINT APOLIINARIS,

SAINT ANGELA OF FOLIGNO,

SAINT GREGORY OF NYSSA,

SAINT ADRIAN OF CANTERBURY,

SAINT ANDREW CORSINI,

SAINT ANDRE BESSETTE,

SAINT RAYMOND OF PENYAFORT,

SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

SAINT KENTIGERN OR MUNGO,

SAINT SAVA,

SAINTS MAUR AND PLACID,

SAINT ITA,

SAINT REMIGIUS, REMY OR REMI,

SAINT FURSA OR FURSEY,

SAINT JOSEPH VAZ,

SAINT ANTHONY, ABBOT,

OUR LADY OF ARABIA,

SAINT WULSTAN,

SAINT FAOLAN,

SAINT HENRY OF UPPSALA,

THE JESUIT MARTYRS OF THE REFORMATION,

BLESSED ANDREW PESCHIARA OP,

POPE SAINT FABIAN, MARTYR,

SAINT SEBASTIAN, MARTYR,

BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL TANSI,

SAINT PAUL OF THEBES,

BLESSED ANGELO PAOLI,

SAINT AGNES, VIRGIN, MARTYR,

SAINT PUBLIUS,

POPE SAINT MARCELLUS,

BLESSED ANTHONY DELLA CHIESA OP,

SAINT VINCENT, DEACON, MARTYR,

BLESSED HENRY SUSO OP,

SAINT MARIANNE COPE,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP,

SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS,

SAINTS ROBERT, ALBERIC, AND STEPHEN,

SAINT ANGELA MERICI, VIRGIN,

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, PRIEST, DOCTOR,

SAINT JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST,

SAINT HYACINTHA OF MARISCOTTI,

BLESSED ANN OF THE ANGELES MONTEAGUDO OP,

BLESSED GONSALVO OF AMARANTE OP,

BLESSED BERNARD SCAMMACCA OP,

SAINT AELRED OF RIEVAULX,

SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS OP,

SAINT BENET (BENEDICT) BISCOP,

SAINT PAUL,

BLESSED EDWARD OLDCORNE,

SAINT HENRY DE OSSO,

BLESSED MARCOLINO OF FORLI OP,

BLESSED ARCHANGELA GIRLANI,

BLESSED VILLANA DE' BOTTI,

SAINT GILDAS THE WISE,

SAINT AEDAN OF FERNS,

SAINT ALBAN ROE,

SAINT THOMAS GREEN,

VENERABLE MARY WARD, 

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, CROWN OF ALL SAINTS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

This month's photo: On heaven and on earth.

© Gertrude Feick 2026

First Week in Ordinary Time

January is the month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Prologue 45 - Ch 2:31 Qualities of the Abbot

From the River to the ends of the earth.

JESUS, THE MIGHTY GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call Him while He is near.

(Isaiah 55:6)

It is most certainly a busy day and a busy week at the beginning of the still New Year 2024 fully immersed in January the month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Welcome to the Epiphany of the Lord, the Baptism of the Lord, and the First Week in Ordinary Time. And not a few saints to commemorate and guide us on our way. Whew. The life of a Christian is exhausting. It is true something Willie Graf (1918-1943) said: "To be a Christian is perhaps the hardest thing to ever become in life." However, we keep going, and heed the words of Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), who wrote, "Let the Christian be valiant." United in faith and prayer, then, and all in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, we are valiant in word and deed. 

Speaking of baptism, do you know the date of your baptism? It is an important day, the most important day in your life. As is customary, the Holy Father baptized 16 infants today in the Sistene Chapel. As Pope Francis said to the families gathered in the Sistene Chapel, we should see our baptism as a sort of "birthday." It is the day that the faith was received, a day to be celebrated. After all, it is the day we became a beloved child of God. So, celebrate the date of your baptism. If you do not know the date, contact the parish where you were baptized and find out. I was baptized November 29, 1964, when I was just 20 days old. For this, I thank my parents and godparents, and give God the praise for the gift. I believe, help my unbelief. 

And now, we let the people speak. ☺

The object of the new year is not to have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul.

(G.K. Chesterton, 1874-1936)

The obedience of the star calls us to imitate its humble service: to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all men to find Christ.

Dear friends, you must have the same zeal to be of help to one another; then, in the kingdom of God, to which faith and good words are the way, you will shine as children of the light: through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

(From a sermon by Pope Saint Leo the Great, in Office of Readings, Epiphany)

Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us go down with Him, and rise with Him ... 

Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom His every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of Him who is the light of heaven.

(From a sermon by Saint Gregory of Nazianzen, bishop, in Office of Readings, Baptism of the Lord)

The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters of baptism and thus becomes God's child.

(Saint Maximilian Kolbe, 1894-1941)

May the God of love and peace set your hearts at rest and speed you on your journey; may He meanwhile shelter you from disturbance by others in the hidden recesses of His love, until He brings you at last into that place of complete plentitude where you will repose forever in the vision of peace, in the security of trust and in the restful enjoyment of His riches.

(From a letter by Saint Raymond of Penyafort, priest, in Office of Readings, January7)

I am well aware, almighty God and Father, that in my life I owe you a most particular duty. It is to make my every thought and word speak of you ... 

Impart to us, then, the meaning of the words of Scripture and the light to understand it, with reverence for the doctrine and confidence in its truth. Grant that we may express what we believe. Through the prophets and apostles we know about you, the one God the Father, and on Lord Jesus Christ. May we have the grace, in the face of heretics who deny you, to honor you as God, who is not along, and to proclaim this as truth.

(From a sermon On the Trinity by Saint Hilary of Poitiers, bishop, in Office of Readings, January 13)

I want you to know that in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been the Rosary.

(Our Lady to Saint Dominic)

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us.

He does nothing in vain. He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me - still He knows what He is about.

(Saint John Henry Newman, 1801-1890)

But 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)

SAINT RAYMOND OF PENYAFORT,

SAID APOLLINARIS,

SAINT NATHALAN,

SAINT PETER THOMAS,

SAINT ADRIAN OF CANTERBURY,

SAINT ANDREW CORSINI, OP,

BLESSED GONSALVO OF AMARANTE, OP,

BLEESED BERNARD SCAMMACCA, OP,

SAINT THEODOSIUS,

SAINT AELRED OF RIEVAULX,

SAINT WILLIAM OF BOURGES,

BLESSED MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS,

SAINT BENEDICT BISCOP,

BLEESED ANN OF THE ANGELES MONTEAGUDO,

SAINTS AGATHA YI AND TERESA KIM,

SAINT GREGORY OF NYSSA,

SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP, DOCTOR, 

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I nearly lost it while getting this shot. Flow river flow. You will draw joyfully from the springs of salvation.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

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

In other years: Saint Basil the Great, Bishop, Doctor (330-379); Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop, Doctor (330-389)

Readings of the Day

RB: Prologue 8-13

Mass: Is 60:1-6; Resp Ps 72; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him.

JESUS, KING OF GLORY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Dear faithful readers, Happy Epiphany! That said, I was reminded in an email from a friend in the UK, with the subject "9th Day of Christmas", that other parts of the world will celebrate Epiphany on the traditional day of Thursday, this coming January 6. For others, then, today is the 9th of the 12 days of Christmas. "On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, nine ladies dancing ..." Here or there, no matter, as I replied to my friend, every day is a good day to join the magi, be overjoyed, then prostrate ourselves and do Him homage (Mt 2:10-11).

Let all the peoples, represented by the three magi, adore the Creator of the universe and may God be known not just in Judea but through all the earth because everywhere in Israel great is His name.

(Pope Saint Leo the Great, Discourse 3 for the Epiphany)

In other years, we would commemorate two great saints, both Bishops and Doctors of the Church, who were also close friends. They are Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nazianzen. We can join them in their great pursuit revealed in a sermon by Saint Gregory, included in the Office of Readings for January 2.

Different men have different names, which they owe to their parents or to themselves, that is, to their own pursuits and achievements. But our great pursuit, the great name we wanted, was to be Christians, to be called Christians.

SAINT BASIL THE GREAT,

SAINT GREGORY NAZIANZEN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Thank you to Moni in Freiburg, this photo of the magnificent creche in the Freiburger Muenster (Cathedral).

© Gertrude Feick 2022

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Readings of the Day
RB: Prol 33-38
Mass: Is 60:1-6; Resp Ps 72; Ep 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.

Saturday after Epiphany

St Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:16-22
Mass: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Resp Ps 149; Jn 3:22-30

He must increase; I must decrease.

Friday after Epiphany

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:11-15
Mass: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Resp Ps 147; Lk 5:12-16

He would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Thursday after Epiphany

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:1-10 The Qualities of the Abbess
Mass: 1 Jn 4:19-5:4; Resp Ps 72; Lk 4:14-22

In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments.

Wednesday after Epiphany

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 1:6-13
Mass: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Resp Ps 72; Mk 6:45-52

A people who walked in darkness has seen a great light; for those dwelling in a land of deep  gloom, a light has shone.

Tuesday after Epiphany

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 1:1-5 The Kinds of Monks
Mass: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Resp Ps 72; Mk 6:34-44

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God.

Saint Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

Monday after Epiphany

Readings of the Day
RB: Prologue 45-50
Mass: 1 Jn 3:22-4:6; Resp Ps 2; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

We should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.

The Epiphany of the Lord

Readings of the Day
RB: Prologue 39-44
Mass: Is 60:1-6; Resp Ps 72; Ep 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

In other years: St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

Readings of the day: RB Prol. 45-50

Mass: Isaiah 60:1-6; Resp. Psalm 72; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

WE SAW HIS STAR AT ITS RISING. 

From Karl Rahner, The Great Church Year

Thrown down your defenses! The star is shining! Why shouldn’t we, then, believe and go on the journey? Why shouldn’t we look to the star in the firmament of our hearts? Why not follow the light?

A new year has begun. During this year, too, all the paths from east to west, from morning until evening, lead on and on as far as the eye can see, through the deserts of life with all its changes. But these paths can be turned into the blessed pilgrimage to the absolute, the journey of God. Set out, my heart, take up the journey! The star shines. You can’t take much with you on the journey. And you will lose much of it along the way. Let it go. Gold of love, incense of yearning, myrrh of suffering—these you certainly have with you. He shall accept them. And we shall find him.

                                                         

ON ENTERING THE HOUSE THEY SAW THE CHILD WITH MARY HIS MOTHER.

THEY PROSTRATED THEMSELVES AND DID HIM HOMAGE.

When the king of heaven was born, the heavens knew that he was God because he immediately set forth a star; the sea knew him because it allowed him to walk upon it;

the earth knew him because it trembled when he died; the sun knew him because it hid the rays of his light.

(Saint Gregory the Great)

THEN THEY OPENED THEIR TREASURES AND OFFERED HIM GIFTS OF GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH.

What shall we let go of this year?

Let us offer it to the CHILD; HE shall accept it.