Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

Saint: Pope Saint Sixtus III (d.440); Saint Castor, Martyr of Tarso 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 48:1-9 The Daily Manual Labor

Mass: Nb 21:4-9; Resp Ps 102; Jn 8:21-30

O Lord, hear my prayer.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JOSEPH, FAITHFUL GUIDE,

PRAY FOR US.

But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses ...

(Nb 21:4-5)

Instead of complaining about what may come our way today, why not go this way: "Armed with God's justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.* Amen.

That's what humility means-learning to accept disappointments and even defeat as God-sent, learning to persevere and carry on with peace of heart and confidence in God, secure in the knowledge that something worthwhile is being accomplished precisely because God's will is at work in our life and we are doing our best to accept and follow it ...

(Servant of God Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., from He Leadeth Me, in Magnificat, March 28, 2023, "Meditation of the Day," p. 414)

POPE SAINT SIXTUS III,

SAINT CASTOR, MARTYR OF TARSO,

PRAY FOR US.

*Liturgy of the Hours, Daytime Prayer, Midafternoon Antiphon.

Today's photo: This one seemed fitting for our Lenten journey. Patience, people ... Joshua Tree National Par,

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Saints : Saint Angela Merici (1470-1540); Pope Saint Vitalian (580-672) Blessed Edward Oldcorne (1561-1606); Saint Henry de Osso (1840-1896); Blessed Marcolino of Forli OP (1317-1397)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:10-18 Humility

Mass: Heb 10:32-39; Resp Ps 37; Mk 4:26-34   

Bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, THE SOWER,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what He has promised.

(Heb 10:36)

Jesus, the Sower, has planted the seed of love and mercy into our hearts. What will you do today to water and care for that seed so that it continues to grow? May we be about love and charity this day, just like the great Italian Saint Angela Merici, founder of the Ursulines, a congregation under the protection of Saint Ursula (d. 383/385) and devoted to giving a Christian education to girls from poor families. It is said that when she died at the age of 70 on January 27, 1540, Angela's body remained incorrupt for 30 days. Saint Angela Merici was canonized in 1807 by Pope Pius VII.*

A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit.

He says: A good tree, that is, a good heart as well as a soul inflamed with charity, can do nothing but good and holy works. For this reason Saint Augustine said; Love, and do what you will, namely, possess love and charity and then do what you will. It is as if He had said: Charity is not able to sin ...

We should be impelled only by charity and zeal for souls.

(From a Spiritual Testament by Saint Angela Merici, virgin, in Office of Readings, January 27)

SAINT ANGELA MERICI,

SAINT URSULA,

BLESSED EDWARD OLDCORNE,

SAINT HENRY DE OSSO,

BLESSED MARCOLINO OF FORLI,

POPE SAINT VITALIAN,

PRAY FOR US.

*See Universalis "About Today," January 27, 2023, and Catholic News Agency "St. Angela Merici."

Today's photo: This one comes from Thursday afternoon's regimen on a sunny and warm day like we have had for some time now. Thanks be to God.  Take delight in the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

Saints: Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs (-304); Saints Pothinus and Blandina, Martyrs (2nd century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:35-43 Humility

Mass: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Resp Ps 16; Jn 17:20-26 

I bless the Lord who counsels me.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.

(Jn 17:20-21)

United in faith and prayer, may we, through word and deed, bring others to the faith. Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. At the same time, our faith demands suffering, as we are reminded by the martyrs we commemorate these days. To be a disciple of Jesus, one with the Father, we must pick up our cross and follow Him. Immersed as we are in Saint Benedict's Chapter 7 on humility, we are brought to the fourth step of humility that begins in this way: "The fourth step of humility is that in this obedience under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions, [the disciple's] heart quietly embraces suffering and endures it without weakening or seeking escape. For Scripture has it: Anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved (Mt 10:22), and again, Be brave of heart and rely on the Lord (Ps 26[27]:14) (RB 7:35-37). The fourth step of humility is worth reading in its entirety. You may find it relevant and helpful. By the grace of God we go forth, brave of heart. 

Now is the time for Christians to rejoice, since Scripture says that we should rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering trains us to endure faith with patience, patient endurance makes us pleasing to God. and being pleasing to God gives us ground for a hope that will not be disappointed. Only let the love of God be poured forth into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

(From the exhortation to Martyrdom by Origen, priest, in Office of Readings, June 2)

SAINTS MARCELLINUS AND PETER,

SAINTS POTHINUS AND BLANDINA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The delights at your right hand forever.

© Gertrude Feick 2022