Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Saint: Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (-304)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:63-78 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Resp Ps 47; Mk 3:20-21   

For king of all the earth is God.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS,

PRAY FOR US.

Cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

(Heb 9:14)

As followers, first and foremost, of Jesus, the Son of God, then of those who followed Him like Saint Agnes, the many other early Christian martyrs, Saint Benedict, and "all the saints who from their labors rest," we live by God's commandments every day; treasure chastity, harbor neither hatred nor jealously of anyone, and do nothing out of envy. We do not love quarreling, we shun arrogance, respect our elders and love the young. We pray for our enemies out of love for Christ, and if we have a dispute with someone, we make peace with her before the sun goes down. And finally, we never lose hope in God mercy (Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:63-74). If others say about us, "they are out of their minds," so be it (see Mk 3:21). We go forth, united in faith and prayer. Thank you for being there faithful readers. 

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, Anastasia ...

(Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman Canon)

SAINT AGNES,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Just before I entered the front door of the monastery yesterday afternoon, I looked up. The response of a friend to this was right on: “WOW! Stunning.”

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Monday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Emily de Rodat (1787-1852); Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr (early 4th century); Saint Theodore of Tarsus (601-690)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:22-43 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Proverbs 3:27-34; Resp Ps 15; Lk 8:16-18

The just one shall live on your holy mountain.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, HELP OF THE NEEDY,

PRAY FOR US.

To the humble the Lord shows kindness.

(Pr 3:34)

Welcome to Monday and this one is a day to let your light shine so that others come to know the Light through your light. 🌞

Why not grab a tool or two from Saint Benedict's Tools for Good Works for help, with a friendly reminder that our "way of acting should be different than the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else" (RB 4:20-21). Any one of these tools will keep us busy enough. What is your tool of choice today?

You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge.

Rid yourself of all deceit.

Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away from someone who needs your love.

Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false.

Speak the truth with heart and tongue.

Do not repay one bad turn for another.

Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently.

Love your enemies.

If people curse you, do not curse them back but bless them instead.

Endure persecution for the sake of justice.

You must not be proud, nor be given to wine.

Refrain from too much eating or sleeping, and from laziness.

Do not grumble or speak ill of others.

Place your hope in God alone.

If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself, but be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:22-43)

Whew! 😓

My Redeemer has a claim upon my love, and I do not forget how He questioned Peter, and asked: Do you love me, Peter? Then feed my sheep. He asked this once, then again, then a third time. He inquired about his love, and then He gave him work to do; for the greater one's love is, the easier the work.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, September 19)

Love Himself gives love to us so that we might love with that Love. 

The world was transformed by the light of this love.

(Dr. Matthew Minerd, from Made by God, Made for God: Catholic Morality Explained, in Magnificat, Meditation of the Day, September 18, 2022, p. 276)

The lamp of faith will always be lit on earth as long as there is the oil of prayer.

(Vatican News, @PONTIFEX, September 19, 2022)

SAINT EMILY DE RODAT,

SAINT JANUARIUS,

SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From the area near Mount Adams in southern Washington, see Mount Ranier in the distance. Catherine reports that Mount Adams looks a LOT like Rainier! 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday

Year of Saint Joseph

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

In other years: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas; Saint Finian of Clonard (470-549)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 58:17-29 The Procedure for Receiving Brothers

Mass: Zeph 3:14-18a; Resp Ps (Is 12); Ph 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18

Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim His name.

LET US LIVE IN HOLINESS AND LOVE AS WE PATIENTLY AWAIT OUR BLESSED HOPE, THE COMING OF OUR SAVIOR.

(Liturgy of the Hours, Third Sunday of Advent, Evening Prayer II, Antiphon)

Welcome to Gaudete Sunday, and Bambinelli Sunday too, the latter a tradition started by Pope Saint Paul VI over 50 years ago, when children bring little statues of the Child Jesus to Saint Peter's Square to be blessed by the Holy Father. The figurines are then placed in the family Christmas nativity scenes back home. Pope Francis continued the custom at today's Angelus Address in Saint Peter's Square. With Saint Paul then, we proclaim: "Rejoice in the Lord always, I shall say it again: rejoice!" (Ph 4:1).

This blessed season of Advent, this "period of devout and expectant delight", moves along. On this Sunday to rejoice we might ask ourselves how we are doing to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, and at the same time to look forward to His Second Coming. It can become overwhelming as it is easy to stay busy buying gifts, writing Christmas cards, baking, cooking, and so forth. However, it's Sunday so the time to sit quietly and reflect. We are blessed this day with our Gospel in that John the Baptist gives the crowds some practical things to do when they eagerly asked, "What should we do?" (Lk 3:10). You can read for yourself what the Baptizer recommends. I suggest that we look to Saint Benedict for practical things to do in his Chapter 4, the Tools for Good Works. There is a tool for everyone no matter one's state of life, so the craftsman can choose what it best suited to him or her for use at home, at work, school, in community, at play, and again, wherever she finds herself. Before we look at a few of them, you might consider this gesture of neighborly care and support. My sister shared that one of her neighbors offered to help her hang her Christmas lights. As my sister said, "it was much appreciated and so much easier with two people, and more enjoyable." All it takes is a little kindness.

Now for some practical Tools for Good Works from Saint Benedict. While using any of the tools we remember that "the love of Christ must come before all else (RB 4:21), and also why we use the tools, namely, to help us love the Lord God with your whole heart, your whole soul and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (RB 4:1-2). 

Because "our way of acting should be different from the world's way" (RB 4:20), we must honor everyone, and never do to another what you do not want done to yourself (RB 4:8-9). We visit the sick, and go help the troubled and console the sorrowing (RB 4:16, 18-19). Make a call or write a letter to someone you know who is ill, anxious, or grieving. We bear injuries patiently, love our enemies and if people curse us, we don't curse them back, but bless them instead! (RB 4:31-32). We don't grumble or speak ill of others (RB 4:39-40). We guard our lips from harmful or deceptive speech, and prefer moderation in speech (RB 4:51-53). We respect the elders and love the young, pray for our enemies out of love of Christ, and if we have a dispute with someone, we make peace with her before the sun goes down (RB 4:70-73). That's enough don't you think? You can look to your favorite translation of the Holy Rule for more. Lastly, though, we can only use these tools with the grace of God. Certainly "do not aspire to called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so" (RB 4:62). 

There are so many blessings in our faith tradition to be thankful for. May we rejoice in them and in one another, united as we are in faith and prayer. 

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE,

SAINT FINIAN OF CLONARD,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our Advent Wreath, with the Gaudete rose candle shining brightly.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Month of May Dedicated to Our Lady and a “Marathon” of Prayer to End the Pandemic 

Other saints: Saint Dunstan (909-988); Saint Milburga (c.715); Saint Ivo or Yves (1253-1303); Blessed Raphael Louis Rafiringa (1856-1919); Saint Francis Coll Guitart OP (1812-1875)

Readings of the Day

RB: 4:1-21 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Acts 20:28-38; Resp Ps 68; Jn 17:11b-19

Show forth, O God, your power.

JESUS, SON OF THE LIVING GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus continues His great prayer (Jn 17:1-26). He prays to His Father for His followers, who do not belong to the world any more than Jesus belongs to the world (Jn 11:14). Jesus does not want His Father to take His followers, including us, out of the world, but that His Father keep us from the evil one (Jn 17:15). Yes, we are in the world. Knowing that, Saint Benedict, in today's passage from the Holy Rule, tells us that our "way of acting should be different from the world's way" (RB 4:20). And how will you make your way of acting different from the world's way? All of us can look to Saint Benedict's tools for good works for many ways to act differently from the world. First and foremost, we are to love the Lord God with our whole heart, our whole soul and all our strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves (RB 4:1). We can honor everyone and never do to another what we do not want done to ourselves (RB 4:8-9). We are to speak the truth with heart and tongue (RB 4:28). Jesus prays to His Father for us: Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth (Jn 17:17). 

We continue in prayer these days leading to Pentecost. After all, as Pope Francis said today in his on-going catechesis on prayer at the weekly General Audience, "believers never stop praying!". Come, Holy Spirit, come.

When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send you, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me, and you also will bear witness, says the Lord, alleluia.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

SAINT DUNSTAN,

SAINT MILBURGA,

SAINT IVO OR YVES,

BLESSED RAPHAEL LOUIS RAFIRINGA,

SAINT FRANCIS COLL GUITART,

SAINT JOSEPH,

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More beauty from Whitethorn School.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Other saints: Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, Cistercian monk (1903-1964); Pope Saint Fabian (-250); Saint Sebastian, early Christian martyr (c. 300)

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:44-62

Mass: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Resp Ps 110; Mk 3:1-6

Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor.

I AM THE TRUE VINE AND YOU ARE THE BRANCHES, SAYS THE LOD.

WHOEVER REMAINS IN ME, AND I IN HIM, BEARS FRUIT IN PLENTY.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

During this week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and in today's Wednesday General Audience catechesis, the Holy Father urged the faithful to sow unity in our homes and workplaces with the tools God has given us, namely, "prayer and love". Some practical tools of prayer and love are listed in Saint Benedict's tool for good works. In fact, many are. You read some yesterday, here are some for today:

• Listen readily to holy reading.
• Devote yourself often to prayer.
• Guard your lips from harmful or deceptive speech.
• Prefer moderation in speech.
• Speak no foolish chatter, nothing just to provoke laughter.
• Do not love immoderate or boisterous laughter.
• Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so.

BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI,

POPE SAINT FABIAN,

SAINT SEBASTIAN,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. There is an interesting entry in Butler's Lives of the Saints for one of our saints for today, Cistercian Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. Michael was Nigerian by birth and his parents, "who practiced the traditional religion of the Ibo people, named him Iwene, short for Iwegbuna, meaning 'Sorrow will not kill you.'"  Iwena was baptized in 1912 and given the name Michael. Ordained in 1937, Michael "was one of the first ten Nigerians to be ordained priests" (January, p. 143). Father Michael was a teacher and one of his students is now Cardinal Francis Arinze.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:22-43

Mass: Heb 6:10-20; Resp Ps 111; Mk 2:23-28

Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights.

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 OUR CALL.

(Gospel versicle, Mass)

Saint Benedict gives us several tools for good works in today's passage from the Holy Rule. Take your pick on which one you would like to use for today's good works.

• You are not to act in anger.
• Or nurse a grudge.
• Rid your heart of all deceit.
• Never give a hollow greeting of peace.
• Never turn away when someone needs your love.
• Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false.
• Speak the truth with heart and tongue.
• Do not repay one bad turn for another.
• Do not injure anyone.
• Bear injuries patiently.
• Love your enemies.
• If people curse you, do not curse them back. Bless them instead.
• Endure persecution for the sake of justice.
• Do not be proud.
• Nor given to too much wine.
• Refrain from too much eating.
• Or sleeping.
• And from laziness.
• Do not grumble.
• Or speak ill of others.
• Place your hope in God alone. 
• If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself.
• But be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge. 

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW

Readings of the day: RB 4:63-78

Mass: Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13; Psalm 19; Matthew 9:9-13

It’s as if Saint Paul is cheering us on as we complete Saint Benedict’s chapter on the Tools for Good Works: “I, prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Which tool will guide you today as you live in a manner worthy of the call you have received? 

⁶³The way to become holy is faithfully to fulfill God’s commandments every day:

⁶⁴By loving chastity.

⁶⁵By hating no one.

⁶⁶By avoiding jealousy.

⁶⁷And envy.

⁶⁸And hostile rivalry.

⁶⁹By not becoming full of self.

⁷⁰Showing due respect for our elders.

⁷¹And love for those who are younger.

⁷²By praying in the love of Christ for those who are hostile to us.

⁷³By seeking reconciliation and peace before the sun goes down whenever we have a quarrel with another.

⁷⁴And finally never despairing in the mercy of God.

⁷⁵These, then, are the guidelines to lead us along the way of spiritual development. ⁷⁶If we follow them day and night and never on any account give up, so that on judgment day we can give an account of our fidelity to them, that reward will be granted us by the Lord which he himself promised in the scriptures: ⁷⁷What no eye has seen nor ear heard God has prepared for those who love him.

⁷⁸The workshop in which we are called to work with steady perseverance along these guidelines is the enclosure of the monastery and stability in community life.  

“FOLLOW ME.”

SAINT MATTHEW, PRAY FOR US.

Lectio: Tools for Good Works (con't)

SAINTS ANDREW KIM TAEI-GŎN AND PAUL CHŎNG HA-SANG, AND COMPANIONS

Readings of the day: RB 4:44-62

Mass: 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Resp. Psalm 111; Luke 7:31-35

Day three of Saint Benedict’s tools for good works. What tool speaks to you today; how will it guide your words and deeds?

⁴⁴You should recognize with awe that there will be a day of judgment for all of us,

⁴⁵which should make us fear the doom of an evil life.

⁴⁶Above all, however, you should cultivate a longing for eternal life with a desire of great spiritual intensity.

⁴⁷Keep the reality of death always before your eyes.

⁴⁸Have a care about how you act every hour of your life.

⁴⁹And be sure that God is present everywhere and that he certainly sees and understands what you are about.

⁵⁰Whenever evil thoughts occur to you mind, cast them down at the feet of Christ and talk about them frankly to your spirit)tual father or mother.

⁵¹Take care to avoid any speech that is evil and degenerate.

^52-53It is also well to avoid empty talk that has no purpose except to raise a laugh.

⁵⁴As for laughter that is unrestrained and raucous, it is not good to be attracted to that sort of thing.

⁵⁵You should take delight in listening to sacred reading.

⁵⁶And in often turning generously to prayer.

⁵⁷You should also in that prayer daily confess to God with heartfelt repentance any evil you have done in the past.

⁵⁸And for the future have the firm purpose to right any wrong you may have done.

⁵⁹Don’t act out sensuous desires that occur to you naturally.

⁶⁰Turn away from the pursuit of your own will.

⁶¹Rather, you should follow in obedience the directions your abbot or abbess gives you, even if they, which God forbid, should contradict their own teaching by the way they live. In such a case just remember the Lord’s advice about the example of the Pharisees: Accept and follow their teaching but on no account imitate their actions.

⁶²No one should aspire to gain a reputation for holiness. First of all, we must actually become holy; then there would be some truth in having a reputation for it. 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life, you have the words of everlasting life

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

SAINTS ANDREW KIM TAEI-GŎN AND PAUL CHŎNG HA-SANG,

AND COMPANIONS, PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JANUARIUS (d. c.305)

Readings of the day: RB 4:22-43

Mass: 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Psalm 101; Luke 7:11-17

Saint Benedict presents us with 22 more tools for good works. One might see some similarities between Saint Paul’s First Letter to Timothy, and Benedict’s tools for today, for example, to not be addicted to drink, to be temperate, gentle, and not deceitful. Which tool will you use to help guide your search for God?

²²Don’t let your actions be governed by anger.

²³Nor nurse your anger against a future opportunity of indulging it.

²⁴Don’t harbor in your heart any trace of deceit.

²⁵Nor pretend to be at peace with another when you are not.

²⁶Don’t abandon the true standards of charity.

²⁷Don’t use oaths to make your point for fear of perjury.

²⁸Speak the truth with integrity of heart and tongue.

²⁹If you are harmed by anyone, never repay it by returning the harm.

³⁰You should never inflict any injury on another but bear patiently whatever you have to suffer.

³¹Love your enemies.

³²Refrain for speaking evil but rather call a blessing on those who speak evil of you.

³³If you are persecuted for favoring a just cause, then bear it patiently.

³⁴Avoid all pride and self-importance.

³⁵Don’t drink to excess.

³⁶Nor overeat.

³⁷Don’t be lazy.

³⁸Nor give way to excessive sleep.

³⁹Don’t be a murmurer.

⁴⁰And never in speaking take away the good name of another.

⁴¹Your hope of fulfillment should be centered on God alone.

⁴²When you see any good in yourself, then, don’t take it to be your own, but acknowledge it as a gift from God.

⁴³On the other hand, you may be sure that any evil you do is always your own and you may safely acknowledge your responsibility.

Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me, says the Lord.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

SAINT JANUARIUS, PRAY FOR US.