Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saint Valentine, Patron Saints of Europe, Patron Saint of Lovers; Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop (9th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 12 The Celebration of the Solemnity of Lauds

Mass: Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10: Resp Ps 29; Mk 8:14-21

Praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF HEARTS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, HEARTS UNITED IN THE LORD,

PRAY FOR US.

Do you still not understand?

(Mk 8:21)

Happy Saint Valentine's Day. 💖 

First, in response to Jesus' question above, look to Isaiah 41:17-20 which I had the privilege of proclaiming at Lauds this morning. That all may see and know, observe and understand (Is 41:20). It is snowing right now. Do I need more signs than that? Hmmm. And then there is Noah who just did as the Lord commanded him (Gn 7:5). 

And now a word or two about Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. According to tradition he risked his life to marry couples in a Christian way during the time of the Roman persecution. He was eventually martyred for his witness to the faith. Dear Saint Valentine can certainly intercede for all married couples, and also pray for all couples who do not find it necessary to get married in the Church, or any church for that matter. There are many saints who were married with families so lots of others to intercede too, like Saint Margaret of Scotland (11th century), married for 23 years and the mother of eight children; Saint Louis IX (13th century), married 36 years and the father of 11 children; Saint Thomas More (14th-15th century), married 33 years with 4 children and one stepdaughter; Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, married nine years with five children; and Saints Louis Martin and Zelie Marie-Azelie Guerin (19th century), the first spouses in the Church's history to be canonized as a couple. They had nine children with only five daughters who survived infancy. And they were all nuns including Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, and Servant of God Leonie Martin.* 

We also commemorate the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, born in Thessalonica, Greece, and educated in Constantinople in what is modern-day Turkey. Together they set off for Moravia, in the eastern part of what is now the Czech Republic, to preach the faith. They translated liturgical texts into the Slavonic language and invented the Cyrillic alphabet. Just after one of them, called Constantine at birth, was clothed in the monastic habit and took the name of Cyril, he lived the life of a monk for fifty days. Not long before he died, he prayed to the Lord, his God. And he intercedes for us now, along with his brother. 

Hear my prayer and protect your faithful people, for you have established me as their unsuitable and unworthy servant.

Keep them free from harm and the worldly cunning of those who blaspheme you. Build up your church and gather all into unity. Make your people known for the unity and profession of their faith. Inspire the hearts of your people with your word and your teaching ...

Direct them with your powerful right hand, and protect them under the shadow of your wings. May all praise and glorify your name, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(From an Old Slavonic Life of Constantine, in Office of Readings, February 14)

SAINT VALENTINE, 

SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND, 

SAINT LOUIS IX,

SAINT THOMAS MORE,

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

SAINTS LOUIS MARTIN AND ZELIE MARIE-AZELIE GUERIN,

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX,

SERVANT OF GOD LEONIE MARTIN,

SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

*See Catholic News Agency, "St. Valentine," and CatholicVote "Saints Who Were Married," and Wikipedia too. 

Today's photo: To celebrate Saint Valentine's Day, these colorful and precious glass hearts come courtesy of a friend from the neighborhood where we both were born and raised in Muncie, Indiana (the Hoosier State). We have not seen one another since just before high school (not a few years ago lol 😉), when she moved to Kansas, the Sunflower State, where she still lives. Can you imagine? Recently gifted with an old glass kiln by her brother, she has taken on a new hobby. I am reminded of the wonderful song with words, "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and other gold." Give to the Lord glory and praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Third Sunday of Advent

The Month of December Dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ

Gaudete Sunday

Bambinelli Sunday

In other years: Pope Saint Damasus I (304-384); Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus (1891-1974)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 58:1-16 The Procedure for Receiving Brothers

Mass: Is 35:1-6a, 10; Resp Ps 146; James 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

The Lord God keeps faith forever.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

(James 5:8)

Welcome to the Third Sunday of Advent, traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. We rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near (Entrance Antiphon, Mass). At the same time it is Bambinelli Sunday in Rome and now, thankfully, other parts of the world. The tradition started when Pope Saint John Paul II invited children to bring the statue of the baby Jesus that would be placed in their Nativity scenes at home to Saint Peter's Square during the pontiff's Angelus Address on the Third Sunday of Advent. Then the Holy Father blessed the statues. The tradition was maintained by Pope Benedict XVI and continues with Pope Francis. In his greeting to the children today, Pope Francis invited the children to "pray, before the Creche, that the nativity of the Lord will bring a ray of peace to little children all over the world, especially those forced to live the terrible and dark days of war, this war in Ukraine that destroys many lives, so many lives, and many children." Come, little children, come. 

And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, 

for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.

(Lk 1:76)

POPE SAINT DAMASUS I,

SAINT MARIA MARAVILLAS OF JESUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our Advent wreath set for the Third Week. Lord, come and save us.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Pope Saint Pontian and Saint Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs (-235); Blessed Michael J. McGivney, Founder of the Knights of Columbus (1852-1890)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 59 The Offering of Sons by the Nobles or by the Poor

Mass: Ezk 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32; Resp Ps 51; Mt 19:13-15

A willing spirit sustain in me.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

HEART OF MARY, BLESSED AMONG ALL HEARTS,

PRAY FOR US.

Children were brought to Jesus that He might lay His hands on them and pray.

(Mt 19:13)

Welcome to Saturday, and this one is a good day to pray for all children, that they may be nurtured, cared for, loved, and formed in the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ. And may all children know how much Jesus loves them. After He placed His hands on them, He went away (Mt 19:15). We entrust all children to the care and protection of Our Blessed Mother Mary. Mary, source of all consolation, pray for us.

To honor Our Lady, here is part of a meditation on Mary, by Cistercian monk Amadeus of Lausenne (c. 1110-1159), from Mary, Most Holy: Meditating with the Early Cistercians (Cistercian Publications, 2003), p. 87.

Consider

that when the mother gave birth

the face of the universe smiled

and the glad world applauded its Lord.

Reflect

that the clouds were swept away

and the sky put on its beauty

and the stars, saying here we are

blazed with joy

for Him.

And this, from Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997):

If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon our Lady, just say this simple prayer: "Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now." I must admit, this prayer has never failed me. 

POPE SAINT PONTIAN AND SAINT HIPPOLYTUS,

BLESSED MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: For the Blessed Mother. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Catholic Schools Week

Saints: Saint John Bosco (1815-1888); Saint Alban Roe (1583-1642); Saint Thomas Green (c 1560-1642)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:34 Humility

Mass: 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Mk 5:1-20

My glory, you lift up my head!

UNLESS YOU TURN AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, SAYS THE LORD.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

Welcome to the last day of January 2022. With that on this Monday of Catholic Schools Week, Pope Saint Paul VI speaks: "Modern man listens more readily to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses" (Address to the Members of the Consilium de Laicis, October 2, 1974). I have included several quotations from the delightful and remarkable Saint John Bosco, who certainly taught by his witness to the faith, and is "the first canonized saint in whose honour a national holiday was declared in Italy, for the day following his canonization" (Butler's, January volume, p. 230). Most of the quotations can be found in R. Chervin's Quotable Saints, with some also part of a letter by John Bosco, included in today's Office of Readings.

[A saint] was once asked, while playing happily with his companions, what he would do if an angel told him that in a quarter of an hour he would die and have to appear before the judgement seat of God. The saint promptly replied that he would continue playing because I am certain these games are pleasing to God.

It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself and easier to threaten a boy than to persuade him. It is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys.

You should bear patiently the bad temper of other people, the slights, the rudeness that may be offered you. 

Never read books you are not sure about ... even supposing these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view. Let me ask you this: would you drink something you knew poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup?

Holy purity, the queen of virtues, the angelic virtue, is a jewel so precious that those who possess it become like angels of God in heaven, even though clothed in mortal flesh.

Avoid those who in your presence are not ashamed to make use of scandalous works, and expressions of double meaning.

I want to die so poor that they may say that Don Bosco died without leaving a halfpenny.

Meekness was the method Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized, and still others to gain hope in God's mercy. Thus He bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.

The principal trap which the devil sets for the young people is idleness. This is a fatal source of all evil. Do not let there be any doubt in your mind that man is born to work, and when he does not do so he is out of his element and in great danger of offending God.

The chief thing is to take the burden on one's shoulders. As you press forward, it soon shakes down and the load is evenly distributed.

First tell the devil to rest, and then I'll rest too.

You can do nothing with children unless you win their confidence and love by bringing them into touch with oneself, by breaking through all hindrances that keep them at a distance.

It is a form of trade, you see. I ask God for souls and pay Him by giving up everything else.

Do not imitate those who deceive themselves by saying: "I will sin and then go to confession." How do you know that you will have time to make your confession? Is it not madness to wound oneself, in the hope that a doctor will be found to heal the wound?

When tempted, invoke your angel. Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: he trembles and flees at your guardian angel's sight. 

SAINT JOHN BOSCO,

SAINT ALBAN ROE,

SAINT THOMAS GREEN,

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES,

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS,

SAINT JOHN CANTIUS,

SAINT JOHN HENRY NEWMAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A mid-afternoon sky yesterday. Wow.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

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

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 70 The Presumption of Striking Another Monk at Will

Mass: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Resp Ps 124; Mt 2:13-18

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.

(1 Jn 1:5)

Today is good day to pray for all children, especially those who suffer in any way from violence, neglect, abuse, and/or exploitation. At the same time, we acknowledge that there are elements of Herod in each one of us, as Saint John writes, "If we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn 1:8). Saint Benedict too instructs us with his Tools for Good Works: "Harbor neither hatred nor jealousy of anyone, and do nothing out of envy" (RB 4:65-67). Dear Jesus, help us. If we acknowledge our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing (1 Jn 1:9).

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

ALL HOLY INNOCENTS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More from Moni in Germany.

© Gertrude Feick 2021