Friday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Saint: Pope Saint Callistus I, Martyr (-222)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

Mass: Eph 1:11-14; Resp Ps 33; Lk 12:1-7

Praise from the upright is fitting.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, 

PRAY FOR US.

In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of His will, so that we might exist for the praise of His glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

(Eph 1:11-12)

We are presented with more simultaneously overwhelming and marvelous words from Saint Paul. United in faith and prayer, we exist for the praise of God's glory. Whether inside the monastery, or outside it, whatever we do, we go about the daily "so that in all things God may be glorified" (1 Pet 4:11/Rule of Saint Benedict 57:9). And since we are privileged to read from Saint Benedict's chapters on the liturgical code these days, we can turn to many of the chapters for daily reminders. Here are a few: "Vigils begin with the verse: Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise" (RB 9:1); "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); "After the fourth responsory, the abbot begins the hymn 'We praise you, God' ... At the conclusion of the Gospel reading ... the abbot intones the hymn 'To you be praise'" (RB 11:8, 10); "The Prophet says: Seven times a day I have praised you ... At midnight I arise to give you praise ... we should praise our Creator for His just judgments ... let us arise at midnight to give Him praise" (RB 16:1, 4-5); "Sing praise wisely ... In the presence of the angels I will sing to you" (RB 19:4-5). Made in the image and likeness of God, male and female God created us, we reverence and honor all things given to us by God and use them for His glory.

For Sacred Scripture teaches that man was created "to the image of God,", is capable of knowing and loving his Creator, and was appointed by Him as master of earthly creatures that he might subdue them and use them to God's glory. "What is man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the work of your hands, putting all things under his feet."

But God did not create man as a solitary, for from the beginning "male and female he created them." Their companionship produces the primary form of interpersonal communion. For by his innermost nature man is a social being, and unless he relates himself to others he can neither live nor develop his potential.

Therefore, as we read elsewhere in Holy Scripture God saw "all that he had made, and it was very good."

(Gaudium et Spes Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 12)

POPE SAINT CALLISTUS I,

POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII,

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

SERVANT OF GOD JEROME LEJEUNE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: For upright is the word of the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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

Saint: Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest (1350-1419)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 53:16-24 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Nb 21:4-9; Resp Ps 102; Jn 8:21-30

O Lord, hear my prayer.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to Him will live forever.

(Verse before the Gospel, Mass)

I rather like Saint Vincent Ferrer's teaching below. Today seems a good day, like every day, to approach Jesus. After all, as He tells us in today's Gospel: I do nothing on my own (Jn 8:28), we do nothing without Jesus. Jesus is the way to His Father, who is always with Him, because Jesus always does what is pleasing to His Father (Jn 8:29). May we folllow suit. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven ...

If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask Him to simply fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.

(From the treatise On the Spiritual Life by Saint Vincent Ferrer, priest, in Office of Readings, April 5)

SAINT VINCENT FERRER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Standing tall in the kitchen garden of delights.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 73 This Rule Only a Beginning of Perfection
Mass: 1 Co 1:17-25; Resp Ps 33; Mt 25:1-13

The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Co 1:25)

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions (d. 1900)
Readings of the day: RB 31:13-19
Mass: Ho 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22; Resp Ps 145; Mt 9:18-26

'When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.'

Thoughts go to the boys and their coach who have been trapped in the cave in Thailand and to the international operation team of Navy SEALs, cave divers, and other rescue workers on the scene. Thankfully, most of all those trapped have been rescued. What I think about is how officials have had to get journalists, curious onlookers, and others out of the way so the rescuers could go about their business. Navy SEALs are intense and serious about their business; it is best to get out their way. Like Jesus who arrives at the official’s house today and finds flute players and the crowd making a commotion. Jesus says: ‘Go away!’ Jesus has work to do; it is best to get out of His way too. ‘The Lord leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way’ (Ps 25:9).

'News of this spread throughout the land.'

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:62-70

Mass: Gn 3:9-15; Resp Ps 130; 2 Co 4:13-5:1; Mk 3:20-35

Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo

So I hid myself.

I think of Adam in the garden hiding from God; hiding because he knew he had disobeyed God. Adam had eaten the forbidden fruit when quite clearly God had ordered him not to: ‘You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and bad. From that tree you shall not eat’ (Gn 2:16). When questioned, Adam makes excuses and blames his situation on the woman, who in turn blames the serpent. My thoughts go to taking personal responsibility for my words, deeds, and actions. Instead of blaming my outer self, which in any case is wasting away, why not turn to my inner self, which is being renewed day by day. Renewed so that I conform more and more to the divine will and gain the freedom of a child of God, for I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. For with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption!

May your healing work, O Lord, free us, we pray,

from doing evil and lead us to what is right.

(Prayer after Communion, Mass)

We understand that of ourselves we are nothing.

That’s why we admit our entire being comes from God.

(St Catherine of Siena)

WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD IS

MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER.

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 5:14-19

Mass: Jm 5:1-6; Resp Ps 49; Mk 9:41-50

You have stored up treasure for the last days.

You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;

you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

The first thought that came to mind when reading the whole of today’s passage from the Letter of St James comes from the Book of Ecclesiastes: ‘All things are vanity!’ Questions arise: ‘What treasures, luxuries, and pleasures are impeding my search for the God who is searching for me, preventing me from doing God’s will, and keeping me from loving and serving my neighbor?

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.

Today we are united in prayer with our Catholic brothers and sisters in China,

on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians of Sheshan.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, May 24, 2018)