Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Quinquagesima Sunday

In other years: Blessed Alvarez of Cordoba OP (-1430); Saint Conrad Confalonieri, Franciscan hermit (1290-1351)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 16 The Celebration of the Divine Office During the Day

Mass:  Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Resp Ps103; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48

The Lord is kind and merciful.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, TESTED BY THE GREATEST OF DIFFICULTIES,

PRAY FOR US.

Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.

(Lev 19:18)

Welcome to Quinquagesima Sunday, the "fiftieth" Sunday. If you count Easter as Day 1, and count backwards, you will reach exactly 50 when you get to today. One thing that means is Ash Wednesday, the days following, and the holy Season of Lent are coming soon. Therefore, it is not too early to get ready. These next few days serve as a warm-up of sorts, days to prepare. And today's readings at Mass can certainly help us. In addition, you can turn to Saint Benedict and his Chapter 4 on the Tools for Good Works, where he exhorts us to never repay one bad turn for another, to never injure anyone, to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, never speak ill of others, harbor neither hatred or jealousy of  anyone, do nothing out of envy, pray for our enemies out of love for Christ, and if we have a dispute with someone, make peace before the sun goes down (Rule of Saint Benedict 4:29-32, 40, 65-66, 72-72). That should keep us busy. It may be good too, to ask how often you remember to pray for those who make your life difficult or unpleasant. What is it you need to do so that you will have something above the assigned measure to offer God of your own will with the joy of the Holy Spirit? In other words, as Saint Benedict writes, what do you have to deny yourself of so as to look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing? (see Rule of Saint Benedict 49:6-7). 

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise ...

Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(1 Cor 3:18; Mt 5:48)

BLESSED ALVAREZ OF CORDOBA,

SAINT CONRAD CONFALONIERI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: You will find these just outside our main entrance. He heals all your ills.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Wednesday of Holy Week

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

Saints: Pope Saint Martin I (-655); Blessed Margaret of Castello, OP (1287-1320)

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: 50:4-9a; Resp Ps 69; Mt 26:14-25

You who seek God, may your hearts revive!

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

The Lord God is my help.

(Is 50:7)

In today's Gospel we find Saint Matthew's account of Jesus reclined at table with the Twelve. Yesterday, with Saint John's account, I proposed some of the possible responses to Jesus' announcement that someone would betray Him. Saint Matthew tells us that the disciples were very sorrowful, and began to say to Him, one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" (Mt 26:22). May it be none of us. United in faith and prayer, we continue our journey to Jerusalem. Hail to you, our King; you alone are compassionate with our errors (Verse before the Gospel, Mass).

Make me patient to bear the burdens of those nearest at hand, to welcome inconvenience for them, frustration because of them. Let me accept their temperaments as they are, nurse them in sickness, share with them in poverty, enter into their sorrows with them.

(Caryll Houselander, from The Way of the Cross, quoted in Magnificat "Meditation of the Day", April 13, 2022, pp. 79-80)

The peace of the Lord follows the way of meekness and the cross; it is taking responsibility for others. Indeed, Christ took on Himself our evil, sin and death. He took all of this upon Himself. In this way, He freed us. He paid for us. His peace is not the fruit of some compromise, but rather is born of self-giving.

(Pope Francis, Wednesday General Audience, April 13, 2022)

POPE SAINT MARTIN I,

BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. As a friendly reminder, we are still in Lent until tomorrow. We know from the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year: "The Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, has its center in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Sunday of the Resurrection" (19).

Today's photo: A little hide and seek with some of the garden daffodils.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of Holy Week

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

Saint: Saint Zeno of Verona, Bishop (d. 371)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 58:17-29 The Procedure for Receiving New Brothers

Mass: Is 49:1-6; Resp Ps 71; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38  

I will sing of your salvation.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength!

(Is 49:5)

There is a lot going on in today's Gospel. We begin with Jesus reclining at table with His disciples. Troubled in spirit, Jesus testifies: Amen, Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me (Jn 13:21). Imagine the confused looks on some of the disciple's faces, and the fear and anxiety in some of their hearts. "Surely not I," some may think. Or "please, don't let it be me ....", others might be thinking. Others may be busy pointing their fingers at this disciple, or that one. Meanwhile three fingers are pointing at themselves. We close with Jesus, who asks Peter a question: Will you lay down your life for me? (Jn 13:38). This question comes just after Peter declares: "I will lay down my life for you" (Jn 13:37). It may be that some of us (three fingers are pointing at me ...) betray and deny Jesus in little ways every day. Betrayal and denial come in many forms. "Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:25-26), our holy father Benedict provides as tools for good works. "Seeing with the eyes of Christ," writes Pope Benedict XVI, "I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave" (Deus caritas est God is love, 18). Heart of Jesus, full of faithfulness and love, have mercy on us.

United in faith and prayer, we march on to Jerusalem during this holy week.  

To attain holiness ... we must not only pattern our lives on Christ's by being gentle, humble and patient, we must also imitate Him in His death. Taking Christ for his model, Paul said that he wanted to become like him in his death in the hope that he too would be raised from death to life.

(From the book On the Holy Spirit by Saint Basil, bishop, in Office of Readings, Tuesday, Holy Week)

SAINT ZENO OF VERONA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: These "clothed in Lenten violet" tulips are busy singing. Thank you, Catherine.

© Gertrude Feick 2022