Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336); Blessed John Cornelius (-1594); Blessed Maria Crocifissa Curcio (1877-1957); Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925)

Independence Day - The Fourth of July

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated

Mass: Independence  Day: Is 57:15-19; Resp Ps 85; Ph 4:6-9; Jn 14:23-29; Ferial Day: Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22; Resp Ps 145; Mt 9:18-26

Our land shall yield its increase.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Peace, peace to the far and the near.

(Is 15:19)

Happy Fourth of July! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Jesus comforts us with His words: Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (Jn 14:27). He leaves us with His peace; Jesus gives His peace to us. Yes, it is His peace, not the peace the world can give. Embrace His peace. Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

(Ph 4:6-7)

SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL,

BLESSED JOHN CORNELIUS,

BLESSED MARIA CROCIFISSA CURCIO,

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: You will find the corn knee high by the Fourth of July in Leesburg, IN. Glory dwelling in our land.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 25 Serious Faults

Mass: Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67; Resp Ps 106; Mt 9:9-13

All peoples clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!

HEART OF JESUS, SOURCE OF ALL CONSOLATION,

HAVE MERCY ON US. 

In a Vatican media interview with Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who was in Rome recently for the celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, His Eminence Emmanuel said something that I continue to reflect on. I include it here for your reflection and also because it relates in some ways to Jesus' simple call to Matthew in today's Gospel: Follow me (Mt 9:13). Maybe we need to not think so much about it and just respond more like Matthew did, that is to get up and follow Jesus.

Announcing the Gospel in the world is not a matter of strategy. I fear we are thinking more about the survival of Christianity than about sharing the good news of the Risen Christ.

Today's photo: A burst of beauty in my cousin's yard in Windsor, CA, what she likes to call "firecracker plants" as they always appear in time for the Fourth of July. Officially, these lovely flowers are called Agapanthus, or a neighbor said she always called them Lily of the Nile. May God be praised. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021