The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

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

Saint: Pope Saint Felix I (3rd century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks 

Mass: Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21; Resp Ps 128; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 

Blessed shall you be, and favored.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, SPIRITUAL VESSEL,

JOSEPH, HEAD OF THE HOLY FAMILY,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, SON OF THE VIRGIN MARY,

JESUS, OUR REFUGE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

And be thankful.

(Col 3:15)

As we turn to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph today, a family human, a family holy, a couple things come to mind. The first is something Cardinal Basil Hume said when he was speaking about vocations. "A good religious, if I may call on my own experience, receives his or her first novitiate in the family. The first lessons in prayer are not given in the seminary or novitiate; they are given at home." The second is the saying, "The family that prays together, stays together." Family members may stray throughout life, wandering here and there, trying this and that. It is part of the human maturation process. In the end though, and much before then, we remember and are thankful. Being formed in a family of faith and prayer is a blessing and gift. Whether our vocation leads us inside the monastery or outside of it, a home life of prayer prepares us to live in the way Saint Paul writes to the Colossians in today's first reading, "Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another ... And over all these, put on love ... (Col. 3:12ff). And much of the same is echoed in what has been called the most beautiful chapter in the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch 72. The Good Zeal of Monks. You have read it here before; it is worth repeating over and over. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, help us to let the peace of Christ control our hearts, the peace into which we were also called in one body. And whatever we do, in word or deed, may we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (see Col 3:15, 17). 

The Rule of Saint Benedict

CHAPTER 72. THE GOOD ZEAL OF MONKS

Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other, supporting with greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting live.

At that same time on this glorious Feast, we continue to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, for his consolation during these difficult hours. May the Lord sustain him in the witness of love until the very end. Deus caritas est. Amen.

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH,

POPE SAINT FELIX I,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our creche, detail of the Holy Family. Around your table.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

All Hallow's Eve 

60th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Foundation of Our Lady of the Redwoods Abbey

Saints: Saint Alfonso Rodriguez (1533-1617); Saint Wolfgang of Ratisbon, "The Great Almoner" (d. 994)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 24 Degrees of Excommunication

Mass:  Ph 2:1-4; Resp Ps 131; Lk 14:12-14

In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.

(Ph 2:3-4)

Happy All Hallow's Eve and the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the foundation of Our Lady of the Redwoods Abbey. We could not have more fitting readings for a day like this, celebrating the Vigil of All Saints' Day and the beginnings of a monastic foundation rooted in the Gospel and the teachings of Saint Benedict of Nursia. We hear echoes of Saint Paul's Letter to the Philippians in Saint Benedict's Chapter 72, The Good Zeal of Monks. There, our holy father Benedict tells us about the good zeal that monks and nuns must foster with fervent love (see RB 72:3). Good zeal is when no one pursues what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else (see RB 72:7). And our Gospel from Saint Luke is all about hospitality, a service followers of Saint Benedict know well. Proper honor must be shown to all, especially those who share our faith and to pilgrims (see RB 53:2). May we be blessed in the Name of the Lord. 

On a day like this then, we turn to Saint Paul who writes: "If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing" (Ph 2:1-2). United in faith and prayer, we go forth and prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may He bring us all together to everlasting life (RB 72:11-12). Amen. 

SAINT ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ,

SAINT WOLFGANG OF RATISBON,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our entrance. All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ (RB 53:1).

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Jeanne Jugan (1792-1879); Saint Margaret Clitherow, nee Middleton (1556-1586); Saint Anne Line, nee Heigham (1565?-1601); Saint Margaret Ward (-1588); Blessed Ghebre Michael (1790-1855); Saint Fiacre; Saint Edmund Arrowsmith (1585-1628)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks

Mass: 1 Cor 2:10b-16; Resp Ps 145; Lk 4:31-37

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The Lord is faithful in all His works.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE, 

HEART OF MARY, COMFORT OF THE SAD,

PRAY FOR US.

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 72:11)

It is a good day, dear faithful readers. Saint Benedict gives us his beautiful Chapter 72 on the Good Zeal of Monks, Jesus is busy rebuking demons (Lk 4:35), and there are many glorious saints to invoke. God is praised. 

With the "mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16), may we be about good zeal, that zeal "which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life" (RB 72:2), and go with some words from Pope Francis, preached this past Sunday in L'Aquila, Italy, on the occasion of the Celestinian Pardon (Perdonanza Celestiniana), a celebration established in 1294 by Pope Celestine V.

The saints' lives are a privilege vantage point from which we can glimpse the good news that Jesus came to proclaim - namely, that God is our Father and each of us is loved by Him. This is the heart of the Gospel, and Jesus is the proof of this Love - His incarnation, His face.

(Pope Francis, Feast of Celestinian Forgiveness, Mass, homily, L'Aquila, Italy, August 28, 2022)

And news of Him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

(Lk 2:16)

SAINT JEANNE JUGAN,

SAINT MARGARET CLITHEROW,

SAINT ANNE LINE,

SAINT MARGARET WARD,

BLESSED GHEBRE MICHAEL,

SAINT FIACRE,

SAINT EDMUND ARROWSMITH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Peppers abound in our greenhouse of delight. The Lord is holy in all His works.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Saints: Pope Saint Pius V (1504-1572); Saint Marie of the Incarnation (1599-1672), Our Lady, Mother of Africa

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks

Mass: Acts 6:1-7; Resp Ps 33; Jn 6:16-21

Of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

This is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other, supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else ...

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and my He bring us all together to everlasting life.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 72:3-7, 11-12)

Welcome to the last day of April 2022. Christ is risen, who made all things; He has shown mercy on all people. Alleluia.

You may recall that on Tuesday, "the community of believers was of one heart and mind" (Acts 4:32). Today, "as the number of disciples continued to grow" (Acts 6:1), we find the Hellenists complaining against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. However, the Twelve gathered the community of disciples and worked things out. They were about good zeal. Seven reputable men were chosen to serve at table, while the others devoted themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:3-4). So "the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples increased; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7). May we be inspired to be about good zeal and work things out.

From Christ we take our name and are called Christians ...

What heart is so cold as not to be inflamed with love by the kindness and good will exercised toward us by so great a Lord who, though holding us in His power and dominion as slaves ransomed by His blood, yet embrace us with such ardent love as to call us not servants, but friends and brethren? This, assuredly, supplies the most just, and perhaps the strongest, claim to induce us always to acknowledge, venerate, and adore Him as Lord.

(The Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests, edited under Charles Borromeo, published by the decree of Pope Saint Pius V, 1566, Article II)

POPE SAINT PIUS V,

SAINT MARIE OF THE INCARNATION,

OUR LADY, MOTHER OF AFRICA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I like these. ⚘

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

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

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks

Mass: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Resp Ps 96; Lk 2:36-40

Give to the Lord glory and praise.

JESUS, OUR WAY AND OUR LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's first reading, from the First Letter of Saint John, John writes: "Do not love the world or the things of the world" (1 Jn 2:15). Saint Benedict echoes the same in the Holy Rule. In Chapter 2, "Qualities of the Abbot," Benedict counsels the leader of the monastic community that he "must not show too great concern for the fleeting and temporal things of this world" (RB 2:33). And a Tool for Good Works for the entire community to use, day in and day out, is to make their way of acting different from the world's way (RB 4:20). What are some ways, then, that all the faithful can abide by these teachings? We can look again to Saint Benedict, today presented in a most beautiful chapter, Chapter 72, "The Good Zeal of Monks." On this penultimate day of 2021, we read about good zeal for the third and final time this year. May we then, along with the Abbot, not neglect or treat lightly the welfare of anyone entrusted to us (RB 2:33) and remember at all times that the love of Christ must come before all else (RB 4:21). Yet the world and its enticements are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever (1 Jn 2:17)

CHAPTER 72. The Good Zeal of Monks

Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other, supporting with greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.

SAINT JOHN,

SAINT BENEDICT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Berries with snow, from d in West Linn, OR. Very nice. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021