Ash Wednesday

February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family 

In other years: Saint Methodius (826?-885) and Saint Cyril (827?-869), brothers born in Thessalonica who went to Moravia to preach the faith. They translated liturgical texts into the Slavonic language and invented the Glagolithic and possibly the Cyrillic alphabet. Alrighty then. 

Readings of the Day: Joel 2:12-18; Resp Ps 51; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt.

HOLY FAMILY, FAITHFUL IN OBSERVANCE OF DIVINE LAWS,

MARY, VIRGIN MOST POWERFUL,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Spare, O Lord, Your people.

(Joel 2:17)

Welcome to Ash Wednesday. As has become customary over the years of publishing a reflection, on Ash Wednesday I pass along the following from Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship. As we add to our usual measure of service something by way of private prayer and abstinence of food or drink, then, so as to look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing (see Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch. 49), it may be helpful to go about the season in any of the following ways. Why not choose one fast and feast. Kyrie eleison. 

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling in them.

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on unity of life.

Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; feast on trust.

Fast from compliance; feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.

Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with Your presence, so that we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work.

Amen. 

United in faith and prayer, we go forth. Now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2).

SAINT METHODIUS,

SAINT CYRIL,

21 COPTIC MARTYRS OF LIBYA,

SAINT VALENTINE,

SAINT BENEDICT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

The Month of April Dedicated both to Devotion to the Eucharist and Devotion to the Holy Spirit

Saints: Saint Mary of Egypt (4th-5th centuries); Saint Ceallach (1080-1129); Saint Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble (1053-1132): Saint Venantius, Bishop of Salona and Martyr (d.259)

Readings of the Day

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

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

Proclaim it in distant isles.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, THE MOST HIGH,

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, 

HAVE MERCY ON US.

They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area,

"What do you think? That He will come to the feast?"

(Jn 11:56)

Welcome to April, the month dedicated both to devotion to the Eucharist and devotion to the Holy Spirit. Throughout this month, we will invoke Jesus from the litany to the Holy Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit from the litany of the Holy Spirit.

So, will He come to the feast? United in faith and prayer, we go with Him and prepare to enter Holy Week.

Let us take part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in the literal way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way, but perfectly; not only for a time, but eternally. Let us regard as our home the heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one; the city glorified by angels, not the one laid waste by armies ... let us join the choirs of angels in offering God upon His heavenly altar a sacrifice of praise ... 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 His 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)

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

(Verse Before the Gospel, Mass)

SAINT MARY OF EGYPT,

SAINT CEALLACH,

SAINT HUGH,

SAINT VENANTIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From Wednesday morning just before 8am. They shall come streaming to the Lord's blessings.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS

Readings of the day: RB 7:35-43

Mass: Exodus 23:20-23; Resp. Psalm 91 or Zechariah 8:1-8; Resp. Psalm 102;

Matthew 18:1-5,10

Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy provides insight into today’s celebration: 

“Devotion to the Holy Angels gives rise to a certain form of the Christian life which is characterized by:

• devout gratitude to God for having placed these heavenly spirits of great sanctity and dignity [at our service];

• an attitude of devotion deriving from the knowledge of living constantly in the presence of the Holy Angels of God; serenity and confidence in facing difficulties situations, since the Lord guides and protects the faithful in the way of justice through the ministry of His Holy Angels” (216).

In the presence of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Psalm 137

ANGEL OF GOD,
my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here;
Ever this (day, night) be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Readings of the day: RB 2:30-32; Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11;

John 3:13-17

Today’s liturgy is saturated with the richness of the Word; I am moved to burst out in song.

Saint Paul’s great hymn of humility in his letter to the Philippians includes one of my favorite verses in all of Sacred Scripture: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend.” Upon hearing it, I sing forth: 

At the Name of Jesus

Every knee shall bow,

Ev’ry tongue confess him

King of Glory now;

‘Tis the Father’s pleasure

We should call him Lord,

Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

This is Jesus, “the Son of Man, lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life…For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

Without hesitation, then,

We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. (Cf. Gal. 6:14, Entrance Antiphon)

MAY JESUS CHRIST BE PRAISED!