Friday of the First Week of Lent

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

Saints: Saint Katharine Drexel (1858-1955); Saint Vignal (c.460-532)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 26 Unauthorized Association with the Excommunicated

Mass: Ezk 18:21-28; Resp Ps 130; Mt 5:20-26

My soul waits for the Lord.

 MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF SNOWS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JOSEPH, SERVANT OF CHRIST,

PRAY FOR US.

But if the wicked, turning away from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life ... he shall surely live, he shall not die.

(Ezekiel 18:27-28)

With our words from the Prophet of Ezekiel today, we are immersed in Saint Benedict's chapters (Ch 23-30) on the penal code. We take responsibility for and acknowledge our sins during this holy season of Lent. Our loving and merciful God does not derive pleasure from the death of the wicked. Instead, He rejoices when the wicked turns from his evil that he may live (see Ezk 18:22-23). Thankfully, God has a short memory along with a great deal of patience. In the midst of the daily temptations and struggles, we are united in faith and prayer, and choose life. Let love for him be reaffirmed, and let all pray for him (Rule of Saint Benedict, 27:4)

At the same time, we have the privilege of commemorating Saint Katharine Drexel, a Philadelphia heiress who abandoned her family's fortune to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a congregation dedicated to serving impoverished Native American and blacks while helping them to acquire education and grow in the faith. Saint Katharine was the second American born person ever to be canonized. She was canonized along with Saint Josephine Bakhita and 121 others, 120 of them Martyrs of China, by Pope Saint John Paul in 2000.*

With great courage [Saint Katharine Drexel] placed her confidence in the Lord and gave her life and wealth totally to His service ...

May the example of St. Katharine Drexel be a beacon of light and hope inspiring all of us to make an even greater gift of our time, talent and treasure for the benefit of those most in need.

(Address of the Holy Father John Paul II to the Pilgrims Who Have Come to Rome for the Canonization of New Saints, October 2, 2000)

SAINT KATHARINE DREXEL,

SAINT VIGNAL,

PRAY FOR US.

*For more on Saint Katharine Drexel see the website for the National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel in Philadelphia, www.saintkatharinedrexelshrine.com. For one, you will find a nice 20ish-minute documentary on her life, "Saint Katharine Drexel: The Holy Heiress," aired March 23, 2019. St. Katharine's sacred remains were transferred to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia August 2, 2018; a new tomb was solemnly installed in November of the same year. For a nice summary of her life, see Catholic News Agency, "St. Katharine Drexel."

Today's photo: That you may be revered.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

For the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Saints: Saint Martin de Porres, Religious (1579-1639); Saint Winefride (6th-7th century); Saint Malachy (c.1094-1190); Blessed John Body (1549-1583); Blessed Rupert Mayer (1876-1945)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated

Mass: Ph 3:3-8a; Resp Ps 105; Lk 15:1-10

Sing to Him, sing His praise.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

(Ph 3:8a)

Only the third day of glorious November 2022, the month has been full. We continue to commemorate saints galore (don't forget to add another saint's name to your collection) and rejoice in the richness of the Word proclaimed. And today we hit the jackpot. In these days, we have been immersed in Saint Benedict's chapters on the penal code (Ch. 23-30). These chapters are important and have much to say about taking personal responsibility for our motivations and actions. If I am stubborn, disobedient, proud, or when I grumble in any way, despise the holy rule and defy the orders of the Abbess (RB 23:1), something has to be done. It all begins with me, however. Thankfully, the Lord is kind and merciful as proclaimed in today's Gospel when Jesus not only welcomes sinners and eats with them, but goes after the one lost sheep, finds it, sets it on His shoulders and rejoices (see Lk 15:2-6). Saint Benedict echoes this today, in his Ch 27 on the Abbot's concern for wayward brothers (RB 27:1). It is the abbot's responsibility to have great concern and to act with all speed, discernment and diligence in order not to lose any of the sheep entrusted to him (see RB 27:5). Yes, the abbot is to imitate the loving example of the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep in the mountains and went in search of the one sheep that had strayed (see RB 27:8). There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Lk 15:10). Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us.

The example of Martin's life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us ...

Saint Martin, always obedient and inspired by his divine teacher, dealt with his brothers with that profound love which comes from pure faith and humility in spirit. He loved men because he honestly looked at them as God's children and as his own brothers and sisters. Such was his humility that he loved them even more than himself and considered them to be better and more righteous than he was.

(From a homily at the Canonization of Saint Martin de Porres by Pope Saint John XXIII in Office of Readings, November 3)

Take note: Buon viaggio to the Holy Father Pope Francis. Papa Francesco is on his 39th Apostolic Journey abroad, to the 58th country he has visited, this time the Kingdom of Bahrain. In preparation for his journey, the Holy Father visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome for the 100th time since the start of his pontificate. There, as is customary, he spent some time in prayer before the icon of Maria Solus Populi Romani. Mary, health of the Roman People, pray for us.

SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES,

SAINT WINEFRIDE,

SAINT MALACHY,

BLESSED JOHN BODY,

BLESSED RUPERT MAYER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Glory in His holy name.

© Gertrude Feick 2022