For all the Saints

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary 

Be holy, for I am holy.

MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS,

MARY, JOY OF ALL SAINTS,

PRAY FOR US.

Dear faithful readers, welcome to a special edition of newsy news on this Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, a time of the year that is anything but ordinary. This day, then, we are all about saints, one of my favorite subjects. For all the Saints, young ones, not so young ones, and all those who were and are just the age they were and are, give God the praise!

United in faith and prayer, we have much to celebrate. On this day, September 7, 2025, the day before we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we recall something Pope Francis (1936-2025) wrote about in his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus vivit, addressed to young people and the entire people of God. In paragraphs 49-63, Pope Francis called to mind young saints. As he wrote, "The heart of the Church is also full of young saints who devoted their lives to Christ, many of them dying even to a martyr's death. They were precious reflections of the young Christ; their radiant witness encourages us and awakens us from our lethargy" (49). Amen to that. Among some of the young saints Pope Francis highlighted were Saint Sebastian (51), Saint Francis of Assisi (52), Saint Joan of Arc (53), Blessed Andrew Phu Yen (54), Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (55), Saint Dominic Savio (56), Saint Therese of the Child Jesus "The Little Flower" (57), Blessed Ceferino Namuncura (58), Blessed Isidore Bakanja (59), Blessed Marcel Callo (61), and Blessed Chiara Badano (62). And there are so many more, including another young saint Pope Francis highlighted (60), and another he highlighted later in the document (104-106), both of whom stand out especially on this extraordinary day. 

Alert the media entire people of God, Pope Leo XIV canonized two extraordinary young people today, Italian Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925), and British by birth, Italian Carlo Acutis (1991-2000), the first millennial saint. Auguri! Stand up and shout, "For all the saints who from their labors rest!"

And not only do we mark two canonizations of young people, but we also mark the 50th Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), affectionately called "Mother Seton," the first native-born American saint, the one who the late Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, called "wholly American," and who was canonized by Pope Saint Paul VI on September 14, 1975. Mother Seton, a saint who was just the age she was, a ripe 46 when she died. 46? Mother Seton is a young saint too. ☺

As you might imagine, I could go on and on, something that is never too difficult for me, more especially something that is not so difficult given the excitement of all the saints, newly canonized, not so newly canonized, and all the saints "next door," those who are never beatified or canonized, but who witness to the faith quietly and courageously. Those who Pope Francis wrote about in his 2018 Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (7):

I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God's people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those women and men who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in the elderly religious who never lose their smile. In their daily perseverance I see the holiness I see the holiness of the Church militant. Very often it is the holiness found in our next-door neighbors, those who, living in our midst, reflect God's presence. We might call them "the middle-class of holiness.

To temporarily "fix" my tendency to overdo things, I will limit the voices to a few. Kind of. lol.  First, we hear from our highlighted saints, from oldest to youngest. So, two quotations from each one. Given that there are so many in my collection of quotations, this is not so easy. ☺ 

Keep your hearts at rest. Never can you find a surer way of obtaining all your desires than that of leaving all to God, Who delights to grant the wishes even for this life if you are full of confidence.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton)

God will provide. That is all my comfort.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton)

There is no need to pay attention to gossip, much less get ill by giving in to those who perhaps have never known what truth is.

(Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati)

Given today's Gospel passage (Luke 14:25-43), Anyone who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:43), this one is fitting. 

We must sacrifice everything for everything: our ambitions, indeed our entire selves, for the cause of the Faith.

(Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati)

Here is one my favorites. Just say no to the herd mentality, for settling for mediocrity.

Everyone is born original, but most end up dying as photocopies.

(Saint Carlo Acutis)

Jesus, make yourself at home!

Live within me as if it were your own dwelling.

(Saint Carlo Acutis)

For further encouragement, 

The saints in each generation, joined to those who have gone before, and filled like them with light, become a golden chain in which each saint is a separate link, united to the next by faith, works and love.

(Saint Symeon the New Theologian, 949-1022)

Holiness is for everyone in every circumstance in life. We are all called to be saints. And we become saints by loving God and others with our whole being in whatever situation we find ourselves.

(Danielle Bean, "Mothers First: Saint Bridget and Mother Seton Remind Us That We are all Called to Holiness," in Seton Reflections, July 23, 2023)

Last, and certainly not least, we remember a call from the Second Vatican Council, one addressed to each and every one of us, that is, the entire people of God. No exceptions. Open your ears and listen with the ear of your heart. Put another way, be encouraged, arise and awake from your lethargy! Christus vivit! Christ is alive! Oremus pro invicem!

,

Strengthened by so many and such great means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord - each in his or her own way - to that perfect holiness by which the Father Himself is perfect.

(Lumen Gentium, 11)

Today's photo: One from the archives that reaches to heaven ... for all the saints in glory cheering us on.

Gertrude Feick 2025

Monday of the First Week of Lent

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saint: Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot, Doctor of the Church (c.950-1005); Blessed Maria Caridad Brader (1860-1943) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 21 The Deans of the Monastery

Mass: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Resp Ps 19; Mt 25:31-46  

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF SNOWS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.

(Leviticus 19:2)

Welcome to Monday of the First Week of Lent. We can do it, faithful readers. The Lord calls us to respond to the universal call to holiness and be holy as He is holy. However, we must turn to the Lord to help us and guide us. Without Him, we are nothing, and all our efforts are in vain. Saint Gregory of Nazianzen (329-390) reminds us: "Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly as in a mirror, but then with greater fullness and purity."* Thanks be to God. 

Accept with sweetness almighty Lord my bitter prayers.

Look with pity upon my mournful face.

Dispel, all-bestowing God, my shameful sadness.

Lift, merciful God, my unbearable burden.

For you are glorified by all creation, forever and ever. Amen.

(Saint Gregory of Narek)**

SAINT GREGORY OF NAREK,

BLESSED MARIA CARIDAD BRADER,

PRAY FOR US.

*From a sermon by Saint Gregory of Nazianzen, bishop, in Office of Readings, First Week of Lent, Monday)

**See St Gregory of Narek Armenian Church website, Cleveland, OH.

Today's photo: Another scene from Saturday morning. Refreshing the soul.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

57th World Day of Social Communications: "Speak with the Heart Veritatem Facientes in caritate Doing the truth in charity"

Saints: Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor, Patron Saint of Writers and Journalists (1567-1622); Saint Timothy Giaccardo, Priest (1896-1948) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 6 Restraint of Speech

Mass: Heb 10:1-10; Resp Ps 40; Mk 3:31-35    

I have waited, waited for the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, OUR REFUGE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.

(Mk 3:35)

Today we commemorate another great intercessor, Saint Francis de Sales, who way before the Second Vatican Council was all about the universal call to holiness, the call to perfection, especially among the lay faithful. All of us can still turn to his classic 17th century work, Introduction to the Devout Life, available today in recent editions and even in PDF form.* An excerpt from that text is found in today's Office of Readings, some of which I will quote below. For now, it occurs to me that since Saint Francis de Sales is the patron saint of writers and journalists, it is the World Day of Social Communications, and we are in Saint Benedict's Ch 6 Restraint of Speech, Saint Francis de Sales can help all of us. Saint Benedict begins the chapter with words from the psalmist: "I said, I have resolved to keep watch over my ways that I may never sin with my tongue, I have put a guard over my mouth" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 6:1). Since so much of what we say is better left unsaid, even things that we think are good, holy or constructive, we must be on guard so as to curb any evil speech (see RB 6:2-3) and remember that in a flood of words you will not avoid sin, and the tongue holds key to life and death. And strongly, Saint Benedict condemns vulgarity and gossip (RB 6:8) whatsoever. To Saint Francis de Sales then, we pray for help. The Bishop and Doctor was a man of love and moderation, qualities to admire, be inspired by, and imitate. He once said, "whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love." With that in mind, we just may keep better watch over our ways, and reflect more before we speak, write, text, email or communicate in any way. 

When God the Creator made all things, He commanded the plants to bring forth fruit each according to its own kind; He likewise commanded Christians, who are the living plants of the Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion, each one in accord with his character, his station, his calling ...

the practice of devotion must be adapted to the strength, to the occupation and to the duties of each [person] in particular ...

in whatever situations we happen to be, we can and we must aspire to the life of perfection.

(From The Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales, bishop, in Office of Readings, January 24)

In an historical period marked by polarizations and contrasts - to which unfortunately not even the ecclesial community is immune - the commitment to communicating "with open heart and arms" does not pertain exclusively to those in the field of communications; it is everyone's responsibility.

(Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 57th World Day of Social Communications, January 24, 2023)

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES,

SAINT TIMOTHY GIACCARDO,

PRAY FOR US.

*See, for example, Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 

Today's photo: Another little beauty from my cousin's garden that did well in the cold weather. He stooped toward me.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Saints: Pope Saint Fabian, Martyr (-250); Saint Sebastian, Early Christian Martyr, Patron Saint of Athletes; Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi (1903-1964); Blessed Angelo Paoli (1642-1720)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:44-62 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Heb 8:6-13; Resp Ps 85; Mk 3:13-19  

Truth shall spring out of the earth.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MASTER OF THE APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted and they came to Him.

(Mk 3:13)

Jesus summons you and me too. United in faith and prayer, we go to Him and do what is needed to build the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Please help us Simon Peter, James and John "sons of thunder", Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, dear Judas. We may not be driving out demons, but we do our part wherever we find ourselves and implement a tool for good works (see Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch 4) of our choice, like guarding our lips from harmful or deceptive speech (RB,4:51). May we continue to respond to the universal call to holiness and be holy so that we can truly be called holy (RB 4:62).

This year I posted a friendly reminder for myself to include the following poem by Jeremy Driscoll, from his little book Some other Morning (Story Line Press, 1992).

JANUARY THE TWENTIETH

In the icy blue light

of the January afternoon

smoke

rises

straight up

from the cabin in the 

distant hills,

a strip of prayers

in the blue distance.

Nothing moves except

the silent sun, taking

its early winter dive

and

with this poem, I 

dive with the sun

and rise with the smoke

and crush this cold

stillness into a prayer

for whoever is there

in the hills making smoke

and say

Go, prayer, into the sky,

go slowly up with

the smoke

and bring back the sun

from its early dive

for the warmer and longer days,

the buzzing busy

time of the spring.

POPE SAINT FABIAN,

SAINT SEBASTIAN,

BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL TANSI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I ran back for the camera when I saw this on my way to the library yesterday afternoon. Salvation, along the way of His steps.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Saint: Saint Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 10 The Arrangement of the Night Office in Summer

Mass: Eph 1:1-10; Resp Ps 98; Lk 11:47-54

Sing to the Lord a new song.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, 

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him.

(Eph 1:3-4)

To reflect upon what Saint Paul writes to the Ephesians can be overwhelming and marvelous at the same time. United in faith and prayer, all the faithful, the laity and religious together have been chosen to be holy and without blemish before Him. We have our vocations, one this and another that. We can turn again to some of the documents promulgated at the Second Vatican Council for insight and encouragement.

Since the laity, in accordance with their state in life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apostolate in the world like leaven, with the ardor of the spirit of Christ ...

Since Christ, sent by the Father, is the source and origin of the whole apostolate of the Church, the success of the lay apostolate depends upon the laity's living union with Christ, in keeping with Lord's words, "He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing ...

Such a life requires a continual exercise of faith, hope, and charity. Only by the light of faith and by meditation on the word of God can one always and everywhere recognize God in Whom "we live, and move, and have our being" ...

This plan for the spiritual life of the laity should take its particular character from their married or family state or their single or widowed state, from their state of health, and from their professional and social activity. They should not cease to develop earnestly the qualities and talents bestowed on them in accord with these conditions of life, and they should make use of the gifts which they have received from the Holy Spirit.

(Apostolicam Actuositatem Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 2, 4)

Since the Church has accepted their surrender of self they should realize they are also dedicated to its service.

The service of God ought to inspire and foster in them the exercise of the virtues, especially humility, obedience, fortitude and chastity. In such a way they share in Christ's emptying of Himself and His life in the spirit ...

The monastic life, that venerable institution which in the course of a long history has won for itself notable renown in the Church and in human society, should be preserved with care and its authentic spirit permitted to shine forth ever more splendidly both in the East and the West. The principal duty of monks [and nuns] is to offer a service to the divine majesty at once humble and noble within the walls of the monastery, whether they dedicate themselves entirely to divine worship in the contemplative life or have legitimately undertaken some apostolate or work of Christian charity ...

Religious should remember there is no better way than their own example to commend their institutes and gain candidates for the religious life.

(Perfectae Caritatis Decree on Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, 5, 8, 24)

SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR,

POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII,

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Break into song; sing praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercian Abbot, Doctor of the Church "Doctor Mellifluus" (1090-1153)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 64:1-6 The Election of an Abbot

Mass: Ezk 43:1-7ab; Resp Ps 85; Mt 23:1-12

For the Feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux: Wisdom 7:7-10, 15-16 or Sirach 39:8-14; Resp Ps 19 or 37; Ph 3:17-4:1; Mt 5:13-19 or Jn 17:20-26

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

HEART OF MARY, SEAT OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; 

I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.

(Wisdom 7:7)

The "Doctor Mellifluus," "the last of the Fathers, but certainly not inferior to the earlier ones," was remarkable for such qualities of nature and of mind, and so enriched by God with heavenly gifts, that in the changing and often stormy times in which he lived, he seemed to dominate by his holiness, wisdom and most prudent counsel.

(Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Doctor Mellifluus the Last of the Fathers, May 24, 1953)

How fitting and right it is that as we commemorate the great Cistercian Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Benedict writes on the election of the abbot, "Goodness of life and wisdom in teaching must be the criteria for choosing the one to be made abbot ..." (Rule of Saint Benedict, 64:2). Saint Bernard knew that God "is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise, for both we and our words are in His hand, as well as prudence and knowledge of crafts" (Wisdom 7:16). Therefore, Pope Pius XII could write: Saint Bernard's "teaching was drawn, almost exclusively, from the pages of Sacred Scripture and from the Fathers, which he had at hand day and night in his profound meditations" (Doctor Mellifluus). 

We end with two quotations from Saint Bernard, the first I am unable to find a source for at the moment, the second from a letter of his. In God we trust. 😊

You will find something more in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux)

We wear ourselves with our scribbling to each other, but is the spirit ever weary of loving? We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those we love.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, The Letters of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Letter 90)  

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: For Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, from Saint Bernard Catholic Parish, Eureka, CA.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the First Week of Lent

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

Saints: Saint Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs (-203)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 30 The Manner of Reproving Boys

Mass: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Resp Ps 19; Mt 25:31-26

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy ...

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

(Lev 19:2, 18)

Welcome to Monday. United and prayer and faith, we continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia. Let us invoke the holy martyrs we commemorate today, and some others too, to help us as we strive for holiness. Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Mt 25:34). 

To us, also, your servants,

who, though sinners,

hope in your abundant mercies,

graciously grant some share,

and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs ...

Felicity, Perpetua,

Agatha, Lucy,

Agnes, Cecilia, Anatasia

and all yours saints,

admit us, we beseech you,

into their company,

not weighing our merits,

but granting us your pardon,

through Christ our Lord.

[Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon)]

"Stand firm in faith, love one another and do not be tempted to do anything wrong because of our sufferings" ...

Bravest and happiest martyrs! You were called and chosen for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(From the story of the death of the holy martyrs of Carthage, in Office of Readings, March 7)

SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I found these sweet, precious beauties, clothed in Lenten purple, in the kitchen garden, late yesterday afternoon. Flowers, bless the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Solemnity of All Saints

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 25 Serious Faults
Mass: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14; Resp Ps 24;  1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.