June 2026

Jubilee Year of Saint Francis on the 800th Anniversary of His Death 

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High.

OUR LADY, QUEEN OF ALL HEARTS,

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

HEART OF JESUS, WELL-SPRING OF ALL VIRTUE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

We confess you, we praise you, and we bless you, God the Father, the unbegotten, God the Son, the Only Begotten, and God the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, all holy and undivided Trinity.

(Traditional Antiphon)

Welcome to June dear faithful readers. Oh what a glorious month it is, one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Go to the HEART of JESUS; there you will find the fullness of God. Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us. And what is it that Jesus to said to one of Gertrude of Helfta's (1256-1301/2) sisters? You will find me in the heart of Gertrude. Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us! Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta, pray for us. 

There is so much to celebrate this month, including, June 7 with The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Corpus Christi.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,

Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,

From you heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,

When the institution olden

Of that supper was rehearsed.

(The Sequence Laud, O Zion, Lauda Sion)

Then on June 12, we are gifted with The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; for June 13, The Immaculate Heart of Mary; for June 24, The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, and wrapping up the month with the June 29 celebration of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Celebriamo tutti!

So, what might be about this month ... hmmm. In addition to continual invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary using one of your favorite titles for her, or two or three of your favorites, like Mary, cause of our joy, or Mary, Health of the sick, it may be good for us to remember that Jesus is in the heart of each and every one of us. Sadly, we sometimes forget that gift, or maybe just imprison Him in our hearts when His love for us, and His love for all those we encounter is begging us to let His LOVE shine forth. Let LOVE and JOY abound dear faithful readers; spread LOVE and JOY throughout the earth ... let LOVE and JOY shine on those near and far ... let HIM shine, let HIM shine, let HIM shine.

With encouragement from not a few voices, we go forth!

To serve God is to reign.

(Saint Antonius of Florence OP, 1389-1459)

I have always something to repent of after having talked, 

but have never been sorry for having been silent.

(Saint Arsenius the Great, d. 450)

In moments when fever, agony, and pain make it hard to pray, the suggestion of prayer that comes from merely holding the rosary-or better still, from caressing the Crucifix at the end of it-it is tremendous!

(Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1979)

Let us live hour by hour, day by day, and leave the future to God.

(Blessed Hendrina Stenmanns, 1852-1903)

He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.

(Saint Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787)

Those who want to find the right way to eternal well-being should not walk with the majority of people who are usually timid about making sacrifices ... Authentic spirituality comes about not by talking about God, but living according to God's command. Without this obedience, even wonderful acts mean nothing.

(Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, 1907-1943)

The Interior Master is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus ...

Loyalty to the Interior Master requires a life that is habitually recollected enough to enable us to hear and obey Him, a life of habitual and voluntary docility to the good as we see it, so that we shall not resister the voice of the Master once we recognize it.

(Father Leonce de Grandmaison, S.J., 1868-1927)

Do your little bit of good where you are; 

it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

(Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1931-2021)

Mr. James Ponder to Theo:

People like you renew my hope in humanity.

Theo's reply:

Yes, we can be such a terrible race at times, but, at the same time, terribly wonderful. All capable of saintliness. You, too, James. You too.

(in Allen Levi, Theo of Golden)

Love is a vital sap; if it fails or if it is not sufficiently abundant, 

everything grows weak, especially faith.

(Venerable Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche, 1868-1915)

He who truly loves, and loves with his heart, must of necessity live in harmony with all. We do not wish to do as the ass; when you shove away the ass it will push itself towards you; and if you draw it to you, it draws itself backwards. Do not so when you see that a certain thing is needed for the good of your neighbor; see to it that you always help him.

(Saint Bernardine of Siena, 1380-1444)

I figure you have to make a bet. You can't go through this life and just be a spectator without ever laying it on the line. I'm betting on God to win, not to show.

(James Farl Powers, 1917-1999)

The gift of life is no less beautiful if it is accompanied by illness or weakness, hunger or poverty, mental of physical handicaps, loneliness or old age. Indeed, at these times, human life gains extra splendor as it requires our special care, concern and reverence. It is in and through the weakness of human vessels that the Lord continues to reveal the power of His love.

(Servant of God Terence Cooke, 1921-1983)

SAINT JUSTIN, MARTYR,

SAINTS MARCELLINUS AND PETER, MARTYRS,

SAINT POTHINUS AND BLANDINA,

SAINTS CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT KEVIN,

SAINT CLOTILDE,

SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO,

SAINT BONIFACE, BISHOP, MARTYR,

SAINT NORBERT, BISHOP,

SAINT MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT,

SAINT JARLATH,

SAINT COLMAN OF DROMORE,

SAINT ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER,

BLESSED ANNED OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW,

SAINT JAMES BERTHIEU,

SAINT WILLIAM OF YORK,

SAINT EPHREM, DEACON, DOCTOR,

SAINT LANDRY OF PARIS,

SAINT COLUMBA,

SAINT JOSE DE ANCHIETA,

THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL OF PORTUGAL,

SAINT BARNABAS, APOSTLE,

SAINT ONUPHRIUS,

SAINT LUTGARD,

SAINT JOHN FRANCIS REGIS,

BLESSED ALPHONSUS MAZUREK AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED HILARY JANUSZEWSKI,

SAINT ALBERT CHMIELOWSKI,

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST, DOCTOR,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA OF THE EUCHARIST,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED PETER SNOW AND RALPH CRIMSTON,

SAINT GERMAINE COUSIN,

SAINT RICHARD OF CHICHESTER,

ALL SAINTS OF SCOTLAND,

SAINT BOLTOLPH,

SAINT ROMAULD, ABBOT,

SAINTS ALBAN, JULIUS AND AARON,

THE IRISH MARTYRS,

BLESSED SANCHA, BLESSED MAFALDA, VIRGINS,

BLESSED TERESA, RELIGIOUS,

SAINT ALOYIUS GONZAGA,

SAINT JOHN RIGBY,

SAINTS JOHN FISHER, BISHOP, AND THOMAS MORE, MARTYRS,

SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA, BISHOP,

SAINT ETHELDREDA,

SAINT THOMAS GARNET,

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT GREGORY BARIGO,

SAINT LUAN,

BLESSED MARY JOSEPHINE CATANEA,

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

SAINT JOHN SOUTHWORTH,

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR,

BLESSED NYKYTA BUDKA,

BLESSED VASYL VELYCHKOVSKY,

SAINT IRENAEUS,

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES,

THE FIRSTS MARTYRS OF THE SEE OF ROME, 

PRAY FOR US.

This month's photo: Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty. It was Lord Byron (1788-1824) who wrote, "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods." There is, however, also a pleasure in the woods with paths. From a walk in the woods at the Fetzer Institute, Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

© Gertrude Feick 2026

March 2026

Jubilee Year of Saint Francis on the 800th Anniversary of His Death 

March is the month dedicated to Saint Joseph

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day 

First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Come, share your master's joy.

JOSEPH MOST STRONG,

MARY, MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE,

SAINT FRANCIS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Dear faithful readers, hold on to your hat it is already March. However, March is a glorious month dedicated to Saint Joseph. O dear Joseph, mirror of patience, pray for us. Before we commemorate faithful and prudent Saint Joseph on the 19th, we warm up with Saint Patrick on the 17th, the day when everybody is Irish. Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord is set for March 29, with Holy Week to follow. 

The weather in these parts has been here, there, and everywhere. If I recall correctly, we were hit by 10 inches of rain in a 24-hour period not so many days ago. And there was some snow not so many days ago too. Then there were some days of sun. Raining now as I write, it is humid and the daffodils have risen. Did I mention my banana slug sighting, and a little lizard sighting too? 

We find ourselves continuing on the Lenten journey. How is it going so far? Sometimes, with all our worthwhile intentions, we stumble early, ready to give up. Thanks be to God, our merciful Lord is ready. He holds out His hand to keep us from falling or pick us up if we have fallen. Just ask Our Lord for help. And while you are at it, ask His Mother too. She will wrap you in her protective veil. 

Now is the time to make an effort to be kind and compassionate to our neighbors, to those with whom we live, and work, and play, and bump into when we might prefer not to. We never know what people are coming from or going to. In fact, we never know the whole story about someone else. Ever. One of the best classes I ever had the privilege of taking was Pastoral Counseling, still taught by the same highly respected priest and psychologist. These words, as well as many others, remain: "You can try to walk in someone else's shoes, but remember, you will never walk in someone else's shoes." I just opened my copy of Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, renderings by Daniel Ladinsky. Here is a rendition of words attributed to Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380).

VULNERABLE

Vulnerable we are, like an infant.

We need each other's care

or we will

suffer.

Somehow, I think that is enough of an offering from my end. Or at least, there is plenty for me to reflect on this month. As far as our voices, they will come from here and there. After we hear a word or two, there is another long list of powerful saints to invoke, including Saint Vignal and Saint Duthac. 

To enter eternal life requires listening to Jesus, following Him on the way to the cross, carrying in our heart like Him the hope of the Resurrection.

(Pope Benedict XVI, 1927-2022)

I want nothing more than for my own will to be completely immersed in God's will. There is no greater pain than that of having offended Him , and thereby having wasted the time that He gave me to love and serve Him ... I am well aware that everything is for God, and that I can please Him with everything I do.

(Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus, 1891-1974)

I will hear what the Lord God will speak within me, says a devout soul. Blessed is that soul who hears the Lord speaking within, and from His lips receives the words of comfort.

(Thomas a Kempis, 1380-1471, The Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 2)

It is useless to spend much time in talking; only a holy life and good conscience will ease your mind and satisfy your soul, enabling you to face God with confidence.

(Thomas a Kempis, 1380-1471, The Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 1)

In the preaching of the Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No one should be ashamed of the cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed.

(From a sermon by Pope Saint Leo the Great, d. 461)

You were made in the image of God. If then you wish to resemble Him, follow His example. Since the very name you bear as Christians is a profession of love for men, imitate the love of Christ.

(From a homily by Saint Asterius of Amasea, bishop, d. 410)

I know you don't command the impossible. You know very well that never would I be able to love others as you love them, unless you, O my Jesus, loved them in me. Your will is to love in me all those you command me to love.

(Saint Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897)

Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.

(From a commentary on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop, 354-430)

I ask you, my Lord, to feed me with your sweet grace, strengthen me with your pure love, surround me with your boundless mercy, and embrace me with your pure truth.

(Blessed Margaret Ebner, 1291-1351)

Yes, life is a treasure-each moment an eternity, an eternity of joy in heaven, an eternity of seeing God face to face, of being one with Him! There is only Jesus who is; all the rest is not. Let us love Him, then, unto folly; let us save souls for Him.

(Saint Therese of Lisieux)

You, Lady, are my all. In your hands has been stored for me the fulness of all good. With you have been hidden the unfailing treasures of truth and grace, of peace and pity, of salvation and wisdom, of glory and honor. You are my anchor amid the billows, comfort in grief. You are, for those who are yours, aid in oppression, help in time of crisis, temperance in prosperity, joy in time of waiting, refreshment in toil. Whatsoever I can stammer in your praise is less than your praise, for you are worthy of all praise. Yet am I bound to praise you.

(Adam of Perseigne, 1145-1221)

The lover of God never knows the words "too much." Those who accuse others of loving God or religion too much really do not love God at all, nor do they know the meaning of love.

(Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1975)

SAINT KATHARINE DREXEL,

SAINT VIGNAL,

SAINT CASIMIR,

SAINT KIERAN,

POPE SAINT LUCIUS I, MARTYR,

SAINT JOHN JOSEPH OF THE CROSS,

SAINT COLETTE,

SAINT PERPETUA AND FELICITY,

SAINT DAVID,

SAINT CHAD,

BLESSED CHARLES THE GOOD, COUNT OF FLANDERS,

SAINT JOHN OF GOD,

SAINT SENAN, BISHOP,

SAINT DUTHAC,

SAINT FELIX,

SAINT FRANCES OF ROME,

SAINT JOHN OGILVIE,

SAINT THEOPHANES THE CHRONICLER,

SAINT SOPHRONIUS,

SAINT AENGUS,

SAINT CONSTANTINE,

SAINT RODERICK,

SAINT MATILDA, QUEEN OF GERMANY,

BLESSED JOHN ANNE,

VENERABLE JAN TYRANOWSKI,

SAINT JULIAN OF ANTIOCH,

SAINT PATRICK, BISHOP, MISSIONARY,

SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM, BISHOP, DOCTOR,

SAINT EDWARD THE MARTYR,

SAINT HERBERT,

SAINT CUTHBERT,

SAINT ENDA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF FLUE "BRUDER KLAUS",

SAINT DEOGRATIAS,

BLESSED CLEMENS AUGUST GALEN,

SAINT NICHOLAS OWEN,

SAINT TURIBIUS OF MONGROVEJO,

SAINT CATHERINE OF SWEDEN,

SAINT MACARTAN,

SAINT MARGARET CLITEROW,

SAINT JOHN OF EGYPT,

SAINT RUPERT,

SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS,

BLESSED JANE OF TOULOUSE,

PRAY FOR US.

This month's photo: Joseph, being a just man ... 

© Gertrude Feick 2026

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

From your heart let praises burst.

HEART OF MARY, UNITED TO THE HEART OF JESUS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;

whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Alleluia.

Welcome to Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, a feast instituted by Pope Urban IV in 1264. I believe, help my unbelief. 

In the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, still in the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we have the privilege of celebrating the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on June 24th, followed by the celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27th, followed by the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary on June 28th. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful to me (Psalm 13). How about this from 17th century Camaldolese hermit Dom Roberto: "The precise will of God is that we serve, honor, and tenderly love Mary." Heart of Mary, most humble, pray for us.

There are certainly more than a few Eucharistic processions happening throughout the world today. Among other ones, both small and large, there is the one in Orvieto, Italy.  It is a marvel to behold. Hundreds and hundreds of locals arrayed in medieval attire process through the streets with the Holy Eucharist and the Sacred Corporeal "The Miracle of Bolsena." About the Sacred Corporeal, it is said that Peter of Prague, a Bohemian priest, a doubting one at that, while on his way to Rome in 1263, stopped in Bolsena to celebrate Mass. During the celebration of the Mass, drops of blood started falling from the communion bread he was holding; the drops stained the corporeal. When Pope Urban IV heard of this, he had the sacred corporeal moved to Orvieto, where it is kept at the Cathedral of Orvieto* (awesome), in the Chapel of the Corporeal. My favorite image of Our Lady hangs there, Madonna de Raccomandati, loosely translated as Our Lady of Mercy. In it, Our Lady, surrounded by angels, spreads her protective veil over men and women of the medieval period. I have had the holy card in my monthly missal for years. Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of those recommended to her, cover us in your protective veil. May we receive the "grace of a deeper gratitude for what we receive in the Holy Eucharist" (Magnificat, June 22, 2025, Prayer of the Faithful). BTW, Peter of Prague no longer doubted. However, I am not sure. ☺

My nearly 100 sheets of voices include many who have something to say about the Eucharist. I include a few and conclude with a doozy from Pope Benedict XVI, some of which I had the privilege of proclaiming at Vigils last night. 

The Eucharistic sacrifice is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life.

(Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium Christ is the light of the nations, 11) 

Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth, the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth.

(J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892-1973)

Very bread, good shepherd tend us,

Jesu, of your love befriend us,

You refresh us, you defend us,

Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

(Sequence for Corpus Christi Laud, O Zion "Lauda Sion")

Every consecrated host is made to burn itself up with love in a human heart.

(Saint John Vianney, 1786-1859)

Christ gave us the sacraments in order that we might better keep the two great commandments. You will learn about Catholic belief by studying the sacramental life of the Church. The center of this is the Eucharist ... I believe what the Church teaches-that God has given us reason to use and that it can lead us toward a knowledge of Him through analogy; that He revealed Himself in history and continues to do so through the Church, and that He is present (not just symbolically) in the Eucharist on our altars. To believe all this I don't take any leap into the absurd. I find it reasonable to believe, even though these beliefs are beyond reason.

(Flannery O'Connor, 1925-1964, in The Habit of Being, ed. Sally Fitzgerald)

By the Mass and Communion, I must become more and more like Christ.

(Marcel Callo, 1921-1945)

At last God is mine and I am His! Now, let all go its round-I have received Him.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821, after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time)

There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.

(Saint John Vianney, 1786-1859)

To be always close to Jesus, that is my life's plan.

The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.

The Rosary is the ladder to climb to Heaven.

(Blessed Carlos Acutis, 1991-2006, will be canonized September 7, 2025)

Jesus Eucharistic is a conqueror ... He wants to subject the universe to His gentle sway.

(Saint Peter Julian Eymard, 1811-1868)

Here is some of what Pope Benedict XVI preached on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, June 23, 2011.

Saint Augustine helps us to understand the dynamic of Eucharistic communion when he mentions a sort of vision that he had, in which Jesus said to him: "I am the food of strong men; grow and you shall feed on me; nor shall you change me, like the food of your flesh into yourself, but you shall be changed into my likeness" (Confessions, VII, 10, 18).

Therefore, whereas food for the body is assimilated by our organism and contributes to nourishing it, in the case of the Eucharist it is a different Bread; it is not we who assimilate it, but it assimilates us in itself, so that we become conformed to Jesus Christ, a member of His Body, one with Him. This passage is crucial. In fact, precisely because it is Christ who, in Eucharistic communion changes us into Him, our individuality, in this encounter, is opened, liberated from its egocentrism and inserted into the Person of Jesus who in His turn is immersed in Trinitarian communion. The Eucharist, therefore, while it unites us to Christ also opens us to others, makes us members of one another: we are no longer divided but one in Him. Eucharistic communion not only unites me to the person beside me and with whom I may not even be on good terms, but also to our distant brethren in every part of the world.

As I said, it's a doozy.☺ Until next time, keep the faith and keep going. And day by day, the list of saints of to intercede for us grows ...

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA,

SAINT THOMAS MORE,

BLESSED BASIL HOPKO,

SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO,

SAINT ETHELDREDA,

SAINT LUAN,

SAINT WILLIAM OF VERCELLI,

BLESSED MARY JOSEPHINE CATANEA,

SAINT JOSE MARIA ESCRIVA DE BALAGUER,

SAINT PELAGIUS,

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA,

SAINT JOHN SOUTHWORTH.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR,

BLESSED NYKYTA BUDKA,

BLESSED VASYL VELYCHKOVSKY,

SAINT LADISLAS,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF SCHONAU,

SAINT IRENAEUS, BISHOP, DOCTOR, MARTYR, 

SAINT VINCENTIA GEROSA,

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL,

THE FIRST MARTYRS OF THE SEE OF ROME,

SAINT JUNIPERO SERRA,

SAINT OLIVER PLUNKETT, 

BLESSED NAZJU FALZON,

SAINT OTTO OF BAMBERG,

SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE, 

BLESSED JOHN CORNELIUS,

BLESSED MARIA CROCIFISSA CURCIO,

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATTI,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL,

SAINT ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA,

OUR LADY OF BUDSLAU,

BLESSED GEORGE NICHOLS, RICHARD YAXLEY, THOMAS BELSON, HUMPRHEY PRITCHARD,

SAINT MODWEN,

SAINT MARIA GORETTI,

SAINT MONNINE,

BLESSED PETER TO ROT,

SAINT MAELRUAIN,

BLESSED MARIA ROMERO MENESES,

SAINT KILIAN,

SAINT WITHBURGA,

SAINTS AQUILA AND PRISCILLA,

THE MARTYRS OF GORCAM,

SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

SAINT VILLEHAD, MARTYR,

SAINT LEO IGNATIUS, PRIEST, MARY ZHU WU AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

BLESSED JANE SCOPELLI,

BLESSED EUGENE III, CISTERCIAN POPE,

VENERABLE AUGUSTUS TOLTON,

SAINT CANUT, KING AND MARTYR, PATRON OF DENMARK,

MARTYRS OF DAMASCUS,

PRAY FOR US.

*See www.duomodiorvieto.it. 

Today's photo: From d and John's garden of delights. Blessed be God Most High.

© Gertrude Feick 2025

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

June is the month of the Sacred Heart 

In other years: Saint Clotilde (575-545)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch  7:49-54 Humility

Mass: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9; Resp Ps (Dn 3); 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18

Glory and praise forever. 

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH,

MARY, MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

HEART OF JESUS, IN WHOM DWELLS ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 9:7)

Rise from your seats, dear faithful readers, and sign yourself big, with intention and reverence. Trace the sign of the cross: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Remind yourself how much God loves you; He "so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life"! (Jn 3:16). I believe, help my unbelief. Alleluia. God gave His life for you, all of us, so, as the Holy Father told the thousands of faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square at today's Angelus address, "we repeat to ourselves that His love envelops us completely, from top to bottom, from left to right, like an embrace that never abandons us." The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor 13:13). Amen.

And now with a warm welcome to the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and the glorious month of June devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. To start things off (after the not so brief introduction ☺) we hear from Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852): "If you have no earthly consolation, why do you not seek consolation in the heart of Jesus? To love Him is truest joy." Amen to that. Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us. And not without a couple of fun facts about the Sacred Heart, did you know that in 1856, Pope Pius IX established the Feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal church (celebrated June 16 this year)? And in his 1899 encyclical Annun Sacrum, Pope Leo XIII ordained that the "principal Church in every town and village" should be consecrated to the Sacred Heart (14). Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us. All of these things are enough to keep anyone busy for a week ☺O the beauty of our faith tradition. However, if you do not have enough to keep you busy this week, amidst your various, daily responsibilities, remember to "rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor 13:11). United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

And now our voices for the week, a word from here and there. 

Every day we are called to be salt for the world, bringing the flavor of [Jesus'] love to a culture bland from disillusionment. Spending my daily life on plans that are merely focused on myself is putting a bushel basket over what Jesus wants others to see and witness: His love radiating uniquely through you.

(Sister Faustina Maria Pia, S.V., member of the Sisters of Life)

Love everyone with a deep love based on charity ... but form friendships only with those who can share virtuous things with you. The higher the virtues you share and exchange with others, the more perfect your friendship will be.

(Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, 1567-1622)

Seventy-seven times forgiveness acknowledges that I do not see the whole story, that God does not love me more than He loves those with whom I am in conflict. It is absolute surrender and love, and extravagant kind of grace, and undeserved forgiveness that holds out a hand that may be refused.

(Mother Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)

You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits ... your only limit is your soul.

(Auguste Gusteau, in Ratatouille, 2007)

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.

(Pope Saint John Paul II, 1920-2005)

I should be distressed that I drop off to sleep during my prayers and during my thanksgiving after Holy Communion. But I don't feel at all distressed. I know that children are just as dear to their parents whether they are asleep or awake and I know that doctors put their patients to sleep before they operate. So I just think that God 'knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust'.

(The Story of a Soul: Autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux, Ch.8)

Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry.

(Saint Pio of Pietrelcino, Padre Pio, 1887-1968)

SAINT JOHN EUDES,

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY,

SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE,

SAINT CLOTILDE,

SAINT BONIFACE, APOSTLE OF GERMANY,

SAINT NORBERT,

SAINT EPHREM THE DEACON,

SAINT MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT,

SAINT JARLATH,

SAINT COLMAN OF DROMORE,

SAINT ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER,

BLESSED ANNE OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW,

SAINT JAMES BERTHIEU,

SAINT WILLIAM OF YORK,

SAINT COLUMBA,

SAINT JOSE DE ANCHIETA,

BLESSED EDWARD POPPE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This photo was taken for one of our artist sisters to draw. It is these spurs of the moment type shots that turn out the best. I was standing on a chair for this one. ☺ Praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saint: Saint Claude La Colombiere (1641-1682)

Readings of the Day 

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 13:1-11 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days

Mass: Gn 8:6-13, 20-22; Resp Ps 116; Mk 8:22-26

To you, O Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, OUR SUPPORT IN LIFE AND OUR HOPE IN DEATH,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, SEAT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

May the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, 

that we may know what is the hope that belongs to His call.

(Gospel Versicle, Mass)

It happens not occasionally that this leads to that and prompts me to go here and there. Looking at notes from the Holy Father's General Audience Catechesis this morning I read something that the pontiff said, "It's easier to exhort people to love God than to allow ourselves to be loved by Him." This took me to something I read last night, "Why should you deny yourself the same tenderness and warmth you extend to others who are suffering?"* It's true that it is easier to tell others that Jesus loves them and to love Him in return then it is to extend the same courtesy to ourselves. It's like a dear Carmelite friar and friend of happy memory told me once before I was off to lead a retreat: "Just tell the people that Jesus loves them. That's all they need to know." As a result, I've been doing that ever since and many have responded that no one ever told them that before. Or maybe it is because many don't believe it or even think they are worthy of God's love. However, do I tell myself that Jesus loves me? And then do I believe it? Hmmm. It may seem to be a "radical idea" in a way. This is the way Dr. C.K. Germer puts it, what he calls self-compassion: "That's self-compassion--taking care of ourselves just as we'd treat someone we love dearly. If you're used to beating yourself up during periods of sadness or loneliness, if you hide from the world when you make a mistake to begin with, self-compassion may seem like a radical idea."* It may be worthy then to spend some time reflecting on how much Jesus loves us and is always there to embrace us with mercy, love and forgiveness. If we don't embrace this, then how can we extend mercy, love and forgiveness to others. If we are to bear witness to the mercy, love, and forgiveness of God, then, as Pope Francis said to those gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall, "Bearing witness to Him means radiating Him. But, if we do not receive His light, we will be extinguished. If we do not attend Him, we will bear ourselves instead of Him, and it will all be in vain." Then He laid hands on the man's eyes as second time and he saw clearly (Mk 8:25). I can see clearly now the rain is gone 🎵 ☺. And it just so happens that the rain is gone from here too. There's nothing but blue skies. 

SAINT CLAUDE LA COLOMBIERE,

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE,

PRAY FOR US.

*See C.K. Germer, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions (Guildford Press, 2009), p. 2. 

Today's photo: I managed to get this beauty yesterday in between the snow, rain, wind, sun, rain, sun here and there, and so on. As I say, here they come. The flowers, that is. ☺ For all the good He has done for me.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Friday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

First Friday of the Month

Saints: Blessed Andre Grasset (1758-1792); The Protomartyrs of Communism: The Martyrs of September (18th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 8-13

Mass: 1 Cor 4:1-5; Resp Ps 37; Lk 5:33-39

Take delight in the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SORROWFUL MOTHER,

PRAY FOR US.

The Lord will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

(1 Cor 4:5)

Welcome to the First Friday of the Month. Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us. Inspired by Saint Benedict, "let us get up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is time for us to arise from sleep. Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge: If you hear His voice today, do not harden your hearts" (RB Prologue 8-10). 

Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you.

(RB Prologue 13)

United in faith and prayer, we keep going and sing with the psalmist, trust in the Lord and do good ... take delight in the Lord, and He will grant you your heart's requests. 

BLESSED ANDRE GRASSET,

THE MARTYRS OF SEPTEMBER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: He will grant you your heart's requests.

© Gertrude Feick 2022