Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

August is the month dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

In other years: Saints Pontian and Hippolytus (-235); Saint Fachtna or Fachanan of Ross, Ireland, Patron of the Diocese of Ross, probably the first bishop (6th century); Blessed William Freeman (-1595)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 59 the Offering of Sons by Nobles or the Poor- Ch 63 Community Rank

Mass: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Resp Ps 85; Rm 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33

Truth shall spring out of the earth.

QUEEN, ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

SACRED HOST, GREATEST AID TO HOLINESS, 

HAVE MERCY ON US.

HEART OF MARY, SEAT OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.

(Mt 14: )

Welcome to the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary in our month dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in a week when we celebrate with solemnity the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Give God the praise. I saw a letter where the writer signed off: "In the heart of Jesus." Yes, we are in the heart of Jesus, and in the heart of His Mother our Queen, assumed into heaven.  

With Jesus' words to the frightened disciples in today's Gospel, I am glad for the introduction to our bonus voice for the week, namely that of Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), and words the priest prays after the Lord's Prayer, ones that I pray interiorly. The priest prays to the Lord that we may be "safe from all distress." Yes, dear Lord, you are with us. Please, dear Lord, keep us safe from all distress, and protect us from all anxiety as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And what does the great Saint Francis de Sales have to say? "Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul except sin. God commands you to pray; He forbids you to worry." Please then, Lord, deliver us from every evil and graciously grant peace in our days. Kyrie, eleison. 

In the hearts of Jesus and Mary, united in faith and prayer, we go forth, no matter how turbulent the waters that rock our boats, high the waves that toss us, and strong the winds that blow us.

And for this week's other voices.

 You know the general principal: that God is everywhere. On the throne of His glory among the blessed indeed, but also throughout the whole universe which He fills, governs and preserves, ruling it by wisdom and grace. This we learn in our infancy, as of all of our memory in childhood. Yet in the practice of life, we live along as if we scarcely remembered that God sees us.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

Apply yourself seriously because the years are passing by and we are getting old so we have to become wise.

(Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, 1901-1925)

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)

Do not receive Christ in the Blessed Sacrament so that you may use Him as you judge best, but give yourself to Him and let Him receive you in this Sacrament, so the He Himself, God your savior, may do to you and through you whatever He wills.

(Saint Cajetan, 1480-1578)

In the face of anti-social and anti-Catholic schools, alternative schools must be opened whose mission is to direct, to define and distinguish good and evil; schools that may disarm the enemies by giving the true definition.

(Blessed Francisco Palau y Quer, 1811-1872)

This story told me that there is no limit to one's ability-certainly not age-to accomplish in life what one must. Within each individual in this large and complicated world there lives an astounding potential of greatness. Yet it is rare that these hidden gifts are brought to life unless by the chance of fate.

(Velma Wallis, introduction in V. Wallis, Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival, Epicenter, 1993, p. xiii)

Relations became better between The People and the two women. Both learned that from hardship, a side of people emerged that they had not known. The People had thought themselves to be strong, yet they had been weak. And the two old ones whom they thought to be the most helpless and useless had proven themselves to be strong.

(Velma Wallis, Two Old Women, p. 117)

SAINTS PONTIAN AND HIPPOLYTUS

SAINT FACHNA,

BLESSED WILLIAM FREEMAN,

BLESSED MICHAEL MICGIVNEY,

SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE,

SAINT STEPHEN OF HUNGARY,

SAINT ROCK,

BLESSED MARIA SAGRARIO OF SAINT ALOYSIUS GONZAGA,

BLESSED ANGELUS MAZZINGHI,

SAINT CLARE OF MONTEFALCO,

BLESSED VICTORIA RASOAMANARIVO,

SAINT ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA,

BLESSEDS JOHN-BAPTIST DUVERNEUIL, MICHAEL-ALOYSIUS BURLARD AND JAMES GAGNOT,

SAINT JOHN EUDES,

SAINT HYACINTH,

BLESSED MARTYRS OF ROCHEFORT,

BLESSED GUERRIC, CISTERCIAN ABBOT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: And justice shall look down from heaven.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Third Sunday of Lent

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

In other years: Saint Maximilian, Martyr in Africa (d. 295); Pope Saint Innocent I (d. 417); Saint Seraphina (13th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 34 Distribution of Goods According to Need

Mass: Ex 17:3-7; Resp Ps 95; Rm 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42

Come, let us bow down in worship.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JOSEPH MOST PRUDENT,

PRAY FOR US.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Rm 5:1)

Welcome to the Third Sunday of Lent. This holy season marches on.

In today's first reading, we have the people grumbling against Moses. It seems they were "dying" of thirst. Is that what they were dying of? And what's more, they were questioning if the Lord was in their midst, or not (see Ex 17:7). Then we have our Samaritan woman at the well. She knew the Messiah was coming, the one called the Christ. She was eager for Him to tell her everything. And there He was speaking to her! (see Jn 4:25-26). With all this news, we know that this is truly the savior of the world (see Jn 4:42). United in faith and prayer, we should have no anxiety at all ... (see Ph 4:6).

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(Mt 6:34/KJV)

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,

that, by the help of your mercy,

we may always be free from sin

and safe from all distress,

as we await the blessed hope

and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

(Order of the Mass, Communion Rite, Lord's Prayer, Prayer of the Priest)

Today, therefore, we can ask ourselves: Do I thirst for God? Do I realize that I need His love like water to live? And then: Am I concerned about the thirst of others? May our Lady intercede for us and sustain us of the way.

(Pope Francis, Angelus Address, Third Sunday of Lent, March 12, 2023)

SAINT MAXIMILIAN,

POPE SAINT INNOCENT I,

SAINT SERAPHINA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Let us kneel before the Lord who made us.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Blessed Archangela Girlani (1460-1495); Blessed Villana de'Botti OP (1332-1361)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:24-31 Humility

Mass: 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17; Resp Ps 51; Mk 4:35-41

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

MARY, COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED,

PRAY FOR US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples two questions. After His followers woke Jesus from sleeping, He calmed the wind and the sea. Then Jesus asked, "Why were you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" (Mk 4:40). I opened my Bible to the Gospel of Saint Mark to see just how much the disciples had witnessed so far, up to this account in Chapter 4. One might think they would have faith by now. However, we too lack faith. There is no need to be terrified. The Lord is at our side, who or what should we fear? Nothing. Nevertheless, we do have anxiety, fear, worry, and like the disciples, may even feel as if we are perishing. The other day I suggested to a loved one that we pester the Lord to help us. And He is coming through. May we too be filled with great awe (Mk 4:41). I believe, help my unbelief. 

Mary was indeed full of grace

in good measure

pressed down shaken together and running over

for this reason:

that through her

the grace of God might abound in us.

(Baldwin of Forde, 1125-1190)

BLESSED ARCHANGELA GIRLANI,

BLESSED VILLANA DE'BOTTI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sweet little white ones, with a hint of lavender, to honor Our Lady.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest (1699-1775); Blessed Daudi Okelo (1902-1918) and Jildo Irwa (1906-1918)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 16 The Celebration of the Divine Office During the Day

Mass: Rm 6:12-18; Resp Ps 124; Lk 12:39-48

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

I RESOLVED TO KNOW NOTHING WHILE I WAS WITH YOU EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST, AND HIM CRUCIFIED.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

October rolls on with more saints to commemorate, all who heeded the Lord's command to "be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Lk 12:40). We pray for the people of Uganda, who have two great saints to intercede for them. Youngsters and catechists soley devoted to teaching the Christian faith, Blessed Daudi and Jildo were killed at the ages of 16 and 12, respectively. Then we have Saint Paul of the Cross, an Italian mystic, the founder of the Passionate Order, now an Order of vowed priests and brothers, sisters and nuns. I took a look at a Passionate website last night, passionate.org, the site for the Passionists of Holy Cross Province. There I read that "for St. Paul of the Cross, the Passion of Jesus was 'the most overwhelming work of God's love'". I also found two daily prayers, both powerful. I include one here.

Dear Lord, I have allowed the world to come into my heart and rob me of my inner peace. When I experience these difficulties it seems that there will be no end-I see no way out of my suffering. Forgive me for my lack of faith and trust. Though I try to fight it, I let fear and anxiety rule my mind and my thoughts and keep me in despair. Help me to remember that there is nothing so great, so overwhelming or so insurmountable that your love cannot conquer it. Embrace me in these dark times. Show me the way. 

SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS,

BLESSED DAUDI OKELO AND JILDO IRWA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A sweet and colorful tree.

© Gertrude Feick 2021