Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

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

Saints: Blessed Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1473-1541; Blessed Mary Bartholomew Bagnesi OP (1514-1577)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:10-18 Humility

Mass: Acts 18:23-28; Resp Ps 47; Jn 16:23b-28

Shout to God with cries of gladness.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give to you ...

ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

(Jn 16:23-24)

Paul continues his work in today's account from the Acts of Apostles. Paul is busy traveling
from place to place, now through the region of Galatia and Phyrgia. In that area Paul brings strength to all the disciples (Acts 18:23). As the days move on, in preparation for tomorrow's celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, and then Pentecost Sunday, may we strengthen and encourage one another in our faith and through prayer. Believe in the name of God's Son, Jesus Christ (1 Jn 3:23). Call on Him. As He says: Whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give to you ... Jesus, splendor of the Father, have mercy on us.

BLESSED MARGARET POLE,

BLESSED MARY BARTHOLOMEW BAGNESI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: United in faith and prayer, this one comes from a faithful reader east of the Mississippi, in the Buckeye State of Ohio. A professional landscape gardener, he tends to this little flower in the interior garden of a community of contemplative nuns in the local area. The story of the little rose is best from him: "One of the sisters asked me years ago to watch over her tiny little rose plant and every time it presents a rose there is cause for celebration in my gardener's heart!" I am pleased and honored to include this precious rose with account in our daily lectio divina reflection, especially as it comes from a neighboring Buckeye, who is greatly appreciated by this Hoosier at heart. Thank you for being there. Sing hymns of praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Saints: Saint George Preca (1880-1962) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 1:1-5 The Kinds of Monks

Mass: Acts 11:1-8; Resp Ps 42; 43; Jn 10:1-10

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

I am the gate.

(Jn 10:9)

Ready or not, welcome to Monday. Go to Jesus today. He is the way to the Father. As the Lord says: Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in a go out and find pasture ... I came so that they may might have life and have it more abundantly (Jn 10:9-10). United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

Christ is alive! ...

Alive, He can be present in your life at every moment, to fill it with light and to take away all sorrow and solitude. Even if all others depart, He will remain, as He promised: "I am with you always to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20). He fills your life with His unseen presence; wherever you go, He will be waiting there for you. Because He did not come only in the past, but He comes to you today and every day, inviting you to set out to ever new horizons.

(Pope Francis, Christus vivit Christ is alive, 1, 125)

Whoever seeks the truth will find God.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 154)

SAINT GEORGE PRECA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This was another early morning find in Carmichael, CA, a week ago yesterday.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Wilfrid (634-709); Blessed Jan Beyzym (1850-1912); Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil) 

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office

Mass: Rm 1:16-25; Resp Ps 19; Lk 11:37-41

The heavens proclaim God's glory.

HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

We are in the midst of some of my favorite chapters of the Rule of Saint Benedict, those that provide instruction on the Work of God, also called the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours, the universal prayer of the Church. The 12 some chapters, often called the liturgical code, provide the structure for our common prayer. Essentially, the chapters treat what psalms and how many psalms we are to pray, and when to pray certain psalms throughout the liturgical year. Today's chapter on the Number of Psalms at the Night Office offers a wake up call. There is a call to keep us focused and grounded in what we are about in our life of faith and at the Work of God. It is here that Saint Benedict writes, "As soon as the cantor begins to sing 'Glory be to the Father,' let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity" (RB 9:7). With profound bow, we honor the Holy Trinity: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. If our minds or hearts are wandering, we have opportunity at this time to remember who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. We should be no where else or doing anything else. With profound bow, Holy Trinity, One God, we revere you. As our Catechism teaches us: 

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the "hierarchy of truths." The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men "and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin."

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 234)

SAINT WILFRID,

BLESSED JAN BEYZYM,

OUR LADY OF APARECIDA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More from Maddy and Becca's camping adventure in Utah. Here, sunset at Zion National Park.

© Gertrude Feick 2021