Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Pope Saint Cornelius, Martyr (-253); Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Bishop and Martyr (210-258); Saint Ninian (c.360-432)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 3:1-6 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: 1 Cor 15:12-20; Resp Ps 17; Lk 8:1-3

Lord, when Your glory appears, my joy will be full.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MOTHER MOST TEARFUL,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, 

preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

(Lk 8:1)

Let's join the crowd of the Twelve, some women, many of whom had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary the Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and all the others who provide for the masses out of their resources (cf. Lk8:1-3), and accompany Jesus to proclaim the good news, in word and deed! And just how will you go about that today? I will call upon you, for you will answer me, O God (Ps 17). Thank you for being there, faithful readers. We are united in faith and prayer with all the faithful, saints and sinner alike, who have gone before us. Filled with joy, we go forth!

Cyprian sends greetings to his brother Cornelius. My very dear brother, we have heard of the glorious witness given by your courageous faith. On learning of the honor you had won by your witness, we were filled with such joy that we felt ourselves sharers and companions in your praiseworthy achievements. After all, we have the same Church, the same mind, the same unbroken harmony.

(From a letter by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, September 16)

And we go too, with encouraging words from the Holy Father, who today addressed the participants of our Order, the Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance, gathered in Italy for the General Chapter.

Let the grace of your Baptism bear fruit in a journey of holiness. Let everything be open to God, and to this end choose Him, choose God again and again. Do not be discouraged for you have the power of the Holy Spirit to make it possible, and holiness, after all, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.

POPE SAINT CORNELIUS, 

SAINT CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE,

SAINT NINIAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I shall be content in Your presence.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

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

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 8-13 

Mass: 1 Cor 15:1-8; Resp Ps 19; Jn 14:6-14

Day pours out the word to day; and night to night imparts knowledge.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

I am the way and the truth and the life ... whoever has seen me has seen the Father (Jn 14:6, 9), says the Lord. If you hear His voice today, then, do not harden your hearts (Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 10/Ps 94). And just how will you let the message go out through all the earth today?

Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

(Jn 14:13-14)

SAINT PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: From a faithful reader who happens to be a much-loved cousin. 💖Windsor, CA.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

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

Saints: Saint Alphege (-1012); Blessed Isnard of Chiampo OP (-1244); Blessed Sibyllina Biscossi OP (C.1287-1367)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 63:10-19 Community Rank

Mass: Acts 2:36-41; Resp Ps 33; Jn 20:11-18

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

I have here in front of me one of my favorite holy cards; it served as book marker in this year's Lenten book (see Rule of Saint Benedict 48:15). The card is in my collection of holy cards and comes from the Sacro Speco, that is, the holy cave, in Subiaco, Italy, where Saint Benedict lived for three years. The card is of a fresco in the cave and depicts the encounter between Mary Magdalene and Jesus related in today's Gospel. The Magdalene is on her knees, with outstretched arms, reaching for Jesus, who had called her by name, Mary! The Magdalene replies, "Rabbouni", which means Teacher. The viewer can see in the fresco that Mary Magdalene wants to embrace and hold tight the legs of Jesus. Stop holding on to me, says the Risen Lord, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go, Mary, go, announce the Good News! I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God, says the Lord. We join the Magdalene today, and every day, "I have seen the Lord." Keep your eyes and ears and heart and mind open for such encounters with the Teacher. We have work to do. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Alleluia, alleluia (Gospel verse, Mass).

A later addition is the reading proclaimed at Lauds this morning:

Upon my bed at night I 

I sought him whom my soul loves;

I sought him, but found him not;

I called him but he gave no answer ...

The watchmen found me,

as they went about in the city.

"Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"

Scarcely had I passed them,

when I found him whom my soul loves.

(Song of Solomon, 3:1, 3-4a)

SAINT ALPHEGE,

BLESSED ISNARD OF CHIAMPO,

BLESSED SIBYLLINA BISCOSSI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Happy Easter from this Bald Hill buttercup near Corvallis, OR. Happy Easter, dear  Catherine.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday within the Octave of Easter

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

In other years: Saint Laserian or Molaise (-639); Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin (1809-1890); Blessed Mary of the Incarnation (16th-17th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 63:1-9 Community Rank

Mass: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Resp Ps 16; Mt 28:8-15

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Welcome to Easter Monday. The Lord has risen from the dead, so He said; let us all exult and rejoice, for He reigns for all eternity, alleluia (Entrance Antiphon, Mass). Mary Magdalene and the other Mary bump into Jesus in today's Gospel. We will bump into Him too. Be ready. Hold onto Jesus and worship Him. Do not tarry though. There is work to do. Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me (Mt 28:10). 

I am the Christ ...

Come, then, all you nations of people, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you. I am your forgiveness. I am the Passover that brings salvation. I am the lamb who was immolated for you. I am your ransom, your life, your resurrection, your light, I am your salvation and your king. I will bring you to the heights of heaven. With my own right hand I will raise you up, and I will show you the eternal Father.

(From an Easter homily by Melito of Sardis, in Office of Readings, Monday within the Octave of Easter)

SAINT LASERIAN OR MOLAISE,

BLESSED MARIE-ANNE BLONDIN,

BLESSED MARY OF THE INCARNATION,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Frohe Ostern from Moni in Freiburg, Germany. Hallelujah!

© 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