Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Saint Scholastica, twin sister of Saint Benedict (c. 480-547)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 8 The Divine Office at Night

Mass: For the memorial of St Scholastica: Songs 8:6-7; Resp Ps 148; 2 Cor 10:12-11:2; Lk 10:38-42

For the feria: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Resp Ps 104; Mk 7:14-23

Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

DEVOTE YOURSELF OFTEN TO PRAYER.

(Rule of Saint Benedict 4:56)

Dear friends, happy feast of Saint Scholastica. It is a fitting day to devote yourself to prayer as Saint Scholastica's prayer was even mightier than her brother's. And that is no small matter. With the holy twins interceding for us, we are encouraged. 

What we know about Saint Scholastica comes from Pope Saint Gregory the Great and his Book II of the Dialogues, Life and Miracles of St. Benedict, Chapters 33 and 34. You can read some of the story in today's Office of Readings. I share with you an embellished version, something I wrote in 2012. Kyrie eleison.

As holy as Saint Benedict was, there was one occasion when he was unable to attain what he desired. In later chapters of the Dialogue, St. Gregory writes of Benedict's sister Scholastica, herself a holy woman, who consecrated herself to God in early childhood and who used to visit with her brother once a year. It was in a meeting detailed by St. Gregory that Scholastica's prayer was even mightier than her brother's. After the siblings had already "spent the whole day singing God's praises and conversing about the spiritual life", Scholastica asked her brother to stay the night so they could continue their holy conversation. Adamant about returning to his own monastery, Benedict refused. Even though the sky was clear, Scholastica "folded her hands on the table and rested her head upon them in earnest prayer". Just then a torrential downpour began and Benedict was unable to leave. Asking his sister what on earth she had done, Scholastica replied, "When I appealed to you, you would not listen to me. So I turned to my God and He heard my prayer". God answering Scholastica's prayer makes sense to St. Gregory who writes, "Do we not read in St. John that God is Love? Surely it is not more than right that [Scholastica's] influence was greater than [Benedict's], since hers was the greater love." Because of the love that Scholastica had for God and her brother, she and Benedict profited greatly from continuing their spiritual discussion all through the night. 

Furthermore, 

Ch. 34 [of the Dialogues] continues with three days after their visit when Benedict who "stood in his room looking up toward the sky ... beheld his sister's soul leaving her body and entering the heavenly court in the form of a dove". Benedict subsequently had his sister's body brought to his abbey and placed in the tomb which had already been prepared for him. St. Gregory adds, "their minds had always been united in God; their bodies were to share a common grave."

LET THEM PREFER NOTHING WHATEVER TO CHRIST, AND MAY HE BRING US ALL TOGETHER TO EVERLASTING LIFE.

(RB 72:11-12)

Today's photo: This magnificent work of art was done by Sister Protasia Schindler, OSB (late 19th century, early 20th), a Benedictine Sister of Mt. Angel, Oregon. It hangs in the Queen of Angels Monastery Dining Room. Other works by Sister Protasia adorn the Monastery. Image used with permission of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231); Saint Hilda of Whitby (614-680)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 39 The Proper Amount of Food  
Mass: 3 Jn 5-8; Resp Ps 112; Lk 18:1-8

Pray always without becoming weary.

Saint Athanasius (d. 373)

Readings of the day: RB Prologue 1-7

Mass: Ac 15:1-6; Resp Ps 122; Jn 15:1-8

 

http://www.stpeters-swindon.com/art-work/

EVERY TIME YOU BEGIN A GOOD WORK, YOU MUST PRAY TO THE LORD MOST EARNESTLY TO BRING IT TO PERFECTION.

(RB Prol. 4)

IF YOU REMAIN IN ME AND MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, ASK FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU.

(Jn 15:7)

These two passages stick out for me this morning. In the first, St Benedict tells us that every time we begin a good work we must pray to God. He doesn’t say, when we feel like it, or are in the mood, or remember, or like the work. Rather, it is every time. St John tells us that if we remain in the TRUE VINE Jesus Christ, and HIS WORDS remain in us, ask for whatever we want and it will be done for us. Some things to ponder for today: pray for the gift of prayer; persevere in prayer; ask the Lord to help you; pray that whatever you do bears fruit; remain rooted in the WORD; trust; believe. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Mt 7:7-8).

Praying means being with God, experiencing God, loving God.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, May 2, 2018)

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Saint Anthony (d. 356)

 Readings of the day: RB 3:67-13

Mass: 1 Samuel 17:32-33; Resp. Psalm 144; Mark 3:1-6

With plenty to say about today’s readings, I offer instead two items, not unrelated, I read this morning. First, the Holy Father’s Tweet:

We pray to God for the courage to ask forgiveness and

to learn how to listen to what he is saying to us.

Second, from the Life of Saint Anthony by Saint Athanasius:

Having learned that we should always be praying, even when we are by ourselves, [Anthony] prayed without ceasing. Indeed, he was so attentive when Scripture was read that nothing escaped him and because he retained all he heard, 

his memory served him in place of books.

Today we might pray for the grace to pray without ceasing; to ask forgiveness from God; for the courage to ask forgiveness from someone we have offended or hurt; to be better listeners by opening our ears and hearts to the WORD and to those with whom we live and work. We might memorize one verse of our favorite psalm and hold it in our hearts while keeping it on our lips throughout the day—only one way to assist in praying without ceasing. Are you in?

Forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

O God, come to my assistance.

O, Lord, make haste to help me.

Tuesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time: National Migration Week (Jan. 7-13, 2018)

(NB. When the Baptism of the Lord occurs on Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, the readings assigned to Monday may be joined to those of Tuesday so that the opening of each book will be read. Readings for Monday and Tuesday are included here.)

Readings of the day: RB 1:6-13

Mass: 1 Samuel 1:1-8; 1 Samuel 1:9-10; Resp. Psalm (1 Sm 2); Mark 1:14-20; Mark 1:21-28

 

Old Woman in Prayer, known as ‘Prayer Without End’,
by Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693)

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

When I hear the story of Hannah I remember with a smile Sister Timothy McHatten, OP (1931-2008), lover of the Word, brilliant Scripture scholar, small in stature, large in heart, beloved teacher of many. It was in the class, ‘Women in the Bible,’ where I wrote a paper on Hannah as presented in the First Book of Samuel. My first attempt at the project was rather pitiful and Sister Timothy made it clear that she would not accept such poor effort. That said, I would not have it any other way. Sister Timothy called her students to be their best selves and produce work that matched their capabilities. Sister Timothy worked with me, carefully reading more than one draft, and coaching me in the fine art of writing a proper exegetical paper.

Encounter with Sister Timothy extended beyond the classroom. In the Jubilee Year 2000 I went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a lively group of women and men from the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon. Sister Timothy was one of the dynamic duo that led us during that trip, the other being our chaplain, a monk of Mount Angel Abbey, himself full of vim and vigor, an excellent tour guide. Sister Timothy, in true fashion, was fully present while remaining behind the scenes so to speak. In other words, she was humble. She had already furnished us with appropriate biblical readings to match each day’s excursions and visits. I still have my collection of postcards from that memorable pilgrimage and bring them out at various times during the liturgical year. Written on the back of each card is the scriptural passage Sister Timothy supplied for us.

Sister Timothy was a remarkable woman. Anytime I showed up at her office door, it was always open. Even with her head down immersed in another book, she looked up and welcomed me, offering me a chair and a listening ear. I always found her answers and direction not only well-informed, but full of common sense. Sister Timothy also instilled in me a love of the Word. When I later taught ‘Introduction to the Bible’, at Mount Angel Seminary (where Sister Timothy taught from 1989-2008), I said on Day 1: ‘If nothing else, I hope you fall in love with the Word during this class.’ Successful or not in my undertaking, I pray I was at least able to share with the students my own love of the Word. Sister Timothy also helped me to make a place in my heart for dear Hannah. When I think of Hannah, I think of one of my favorite paintings, Old Woman in Prayer, known as ‘Prayer Without End’, by Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693). A picture postcard of it is here on my desk. Hannah’s love of God and ceaseless prayer inspires me. Hannah persevered pouring out her troubles to the Lord. The Lord remembered Hannah. The Lord remembers us too when we pour out our troubles, sorrows, and miseries. The living and true God will come to our aid. Thank you, Hannah. Thank you, Sister Timothy. Rest in peace.

Receive the word of God, not as word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

ALLELUIA.

Saturday of the Thirty-Fourth, or Last, Week in Ordinary Time; Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the day: RB 51

Mass: Daniel 7:15-27; Resp. Psalm (Dn 3); Luke 21:34-36

Be vigilant at all times and pray

that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

As we prepare to enter the season of Advent, it is time to remind ourselves to pray without ceasing. If you don’t think you know how to pray, remember, the Spirit will come to your aid; for we do not know how to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26). The important thing is to keep praying. Words from St Thérèse of Lisieux may help: “For me prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

All loving God,

grant us the gift of prayer

that we may grow in our personal relationship with you.

MARY, SINGULAR VESSEL OF DEVOTION,

PRAY FOR US.

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852)

Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul

Readings of the day: RB 40

Mass: Wisdom 18:14-16; Resp. Psalm 105; Luke 18:1-8

 

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne icon by Milton Frenzel

JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES A PARABLE

ABOUT THE NECESSITY TO PRAY ALWAYS WITHOUT BECOMING WEARY.

WILL NOT GOD THEN SECURE THE RIGHTS OF HIS CHOSEN ONES

WHO CALL OUT TO HIM DAY AND NIGHT?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

make our life a prayer.

ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE,

INTERCEDE FOR US.

Saints Simon and Jude

Readings of the day: RB 21

Mass: Ephesians 2:19-22; Resp. Psalm 19; Luke 6:12-16

JESUS WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN TO PRAY,

AND HE SPENT THE NIGHT IN PRAYER TO GOD.

 

The Transfiguration

This is what praying is: opening the door to the Lord, so that he can do something.

If we close the door, God can do nothing!

(Pope Francis)

Pray without ceasing.

(1 Thess. 5:17)

SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE,

PRAY FOR US.