Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

In other years: Saint Agatha (3rd century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:55 Humility

Mass: Is 58:7-10; Resp Ps 112; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16

Light shines through the darkness for the upright.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, CALLED THE "HOLY FAMILY" FROM ALL TIME,

PRAY FOR US.

That your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God.

(1 Cor 2:5)

Benvenuto, Papa Francesco. The Holy Father is back in Rome after his six-day Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Mary, Solus Populi Romani, pray for us. Help us this day and throughout this week to let our lights shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our heavenly Father. After all, we are the salt of the earth, we are about being courageous witnesses of the faith to all those we meet. And it is wonderful what a little kindness extended to another will do. It can certainly cure what ails you. Reach out to someone today. United in faith and prayer, we go forth and proclaim: Out with the dark and in with the Light! Thank you for being there, faithful readers. Jesus loves you!

We invoke Saint Agatha, patron saint of rape victims, breast cancer, wet nurses, and martyrs.

Agatha, her goodness coincides with her name and way of life. She won a good name by her noble deeds, and by her name she points to the nobility of her deeds. Agatha, her mere name wins all men over to her company. She teaches them by her example to hasten with her to the true Good, God alone.

(From a homily on Saint Agatha by Saint Methodius of Sicily, bishop, in Office of Readings, February 5)

To us, also, your servants,

who, though sinners,

hope in your abundant mercies,

graciously grant some share

and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs:

with ... Felicity, Perpetua,

Agatha, Lucy,

Agnes, Cecilia, Anastastia

and all your Saints;

admit us, we beseech you,

into their company,

not weighing our merits

but granting us your pardon,

through Christ our Lord.

(Roman Canon, Eucharistic Prayer I)

SAINT AGATHA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sunday needs white flowers; these sent by my dear cousin in Windsor. He is gracious and merciful and just.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs (17th-20th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 31:13-19 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer

Mass: Is 6:1-8; Resp Ps 93; Mt 10:24-33

Robed is the Lord and girt about with strength.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Even the hairs on your head are counted. So do not be afraid.

(Mt 10:30-31)

Good morning. It's always good to turn to Our Lady on a Saturday, so we turn to her and pray, Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.

There are two things I include on the subject of kindness. The first comes from our holy father Saint Benedict and his Chapter 31 on the Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer. The cellarer, who in addition to being humble (RB 31:13), should meet all requests with a kind word, "for it is written: A kind word is better than the best gift" (RB 31:14/Sirach 18:17). The second comes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I am slowly making my way through the Catechism's Part IV, Section Two on The Lord's Prayer "Our Father!" (CCC 2759-2865). Here, our Catechism refers to Saint John Chrysostom: "You cannot call the God of all kindness your Father if you preserve a cruel and inhuman heart; for in this case you no longer have in you the marks of the heavenly Father's kindness" (CCC 2784). Heart of Jesus, full of kindness, have mercy on us. United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND COMPANIONS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Martyr red from the archives to honor today's martyrs. Queen of Angels Monastery, Mt. Angel, OR. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

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

Saints: Saint Deogratias (d.457); Saint Nicholas Owen (c.1550-1606)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 43:1-12 Tardiness at the Work of God or at Table

Mass:  Dn 3:25, 34-43; Resp Ps 25; Mt 18:21-35

Good and upright is the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Moved with compassion.

(Mt 18:27)

As it turns out, more than a few thoughts have been circulating this morning. Thankfully, however, a dear brother helped me gather things. He alerted me to a film, Man of God, that he and his wife saw last night. At this time, it is being shown in select theatres, on two nights nationwide. It is about the Eastern Orthodox saint, Nectarios of Aegina, Metropolitan of Pentalopis. I just watched the trailer and there was a line that I took note of that could be a good summary of today's Gospel. Being questioned about his leadership, Nectarios answered, "A healthy balance between kindness and authority is best." The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants (Mt 18:23).

If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is mockery.

(From a sermon by Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop, in Office of Readings, Third Week of Lent, Tuesday)

SAINT DEOGRATIAS,

SAINT NICHOLAS OWEN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Tulips are a favorite of mine. Tulips bless the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Augustine Zhoa Rong and his Companions, Martyrs in China between 1648 and 1930; The Martyrs of Gorcum (-1572); Saint Paulina of the Heart of the Dying Jesus (1865-1942); Saint Leo Ignatius Mangin, Mary Zhu Wu and Companions, Martyrs in China (-1900); Bl Jane Scopelli (1428-1491)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 31:13-19

Mass: Gn 46:1-7, 28-30; Resp Ps 37; Mt 10:16-23

The Lord watches over the lives of the wholehearted; their inheritance lasts forever.

HEART OF JESUS, FULL OF GOODNESS AND LOVE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Something to keep in mind and heart today is more from Saint Benedict's chapter on the Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer, especially as we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Benedict on Sunday, July 11. The reading from the Holy Rule today has Saint Benedict quoting the Book of Sirach with this: A kind word is better than the best gift (Sir 18:17/RB 31:14). 

It is better for a man to confess his sins than to harden his heart.

(From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope, in Office of Readings, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Friday)

SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHOA RONG AND HIS COMPANIONS,

THE MARTYRS OF GORCUM,

SAINT PAULINA OF THE HEART OF THE DYING JESUS,

SAINT LEO IGNATIUS MANGIN, MARY ZHU WU AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED JANE SCOPELLI,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A contribution from the Otto Family, here in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, Orick, CA.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Thirty-Fourth, or Last, Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 47 Announcing the Hours for the Work of God
Mass: Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5; Resp Ps 24; Lk 21:1-4

The Lord's are the earth and its fullness.