Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint: Blessed Mary Josephine Catanea (1894-1948)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 19 The Discipline of Psalmody

Mass: Gn 18:1-5; Resp Ps (Lk 1); Mt 8:5-17

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

MARY MOTHER OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

There are three stories in today's Gospel, stories about people of faith who go to Jesus to be healed of their infirmities. One of my favorites is the second one, it's brief. Jesus enters Peter's house; He sees Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever; the Divine Physician touches her hand; the fever leaves her; she rises and waits on Jesus (Mt 8:14-15). May we be people of such faith and action and go to Jesus who took away our infirmities and bore our diseases (Mt 8:17). 

Serve the Lord with fear, and again, In the presence of the angels I will sing to you. Let us consider, then, how we ought to behave in the presence of God and His angels, and let us stand to sing the psalms in such a way that our minds are in harmony with our voices.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 19:3-7)

If by a diligent life of virtue you wash away the film of dirt that covers yours heart, then the divine beauty will shine forth in you.

(From a homily by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop, in Office of Readings, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday) 

BLESSED MARY JOSEPHINE CATANEA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another look at the sunrise from the top of Black Butte, OR. God is praised.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

In other years: St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

Readings of the day: RB Prol. 45-50

Mass: Isaiah 60:1-6; Resp. Psalm 72; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

WE SAW HIS STAR AT ITS RISING. 

From Karl Rahner, The Great Church Year

Thrown down your defenses! The star is shining! Why shouldn’t we, then, believe and go on the journey? Why shouldn’t we look to the star in the firmament of our hearts? Why not follow the light?

A new year has begun. During this year, too, all the paths from east to west, from morning until evening, lead on and on as far as the eye can see, through the deserts of life with all its changes. But these paths can be turned into the blessed pilgrimage to the absolute, the journey of God. Set out, my heart, take up the journey! The star shines. You can’t take much with you on the journey. And you will lose much of it along the way. Let it go. Gold of love, incense of yearning, myrrh of suffering—these you certainly have with you. He shall accept them. And we shall find him.

                                                         

ON ENTERING THE HOUSE THEY SAW THE CHILD WITH MARY HIS MOTHER.

THEY PROSTRATED THEMSELVES AND DID HIM HOMAGE.

When the king of heaven was born, the heavens knew that he was God because he immediately set forth a star; the sea knew him because it allowed him to walk upon it;

the earth knew him because it trembled when he died; the sun knew him because it hid the rays of his light.

(Saint Gregory the Great)

THEN THEY OPENED THEIR TREASURES AND OFFERED HIM GIFTS OF GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH.

What shall we let go of this year?

Let us offer it to the CHILD; HE shall accept it.

Saint Martin of Tours (d. 397)

Readings of the day: RB 34

Mass: Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27; Resp. Psalm 145; Luke 16:9-15

GOD KNOWS YOUR HEARTS.

Lord, you have probed me, you know me;

you know when I sit and stand;

you understand my thoughts from afar.

My travels and my rest you mark;

with all my ways you are familiar.

Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all.

Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is beyond me,

far too lofty for me to reach.

(Psalm 139)

Living and true God, grant us purity of heart.

SAINT MARTIN OF TOURS,

PRAY FOR US.