The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity/Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week:  Ch 7:1-34 Humility

All His words are trustworthy.

MARY, VIRGIN MOST PRUDENT,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, SON OF THE ETERNAL FATHER,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Blest be God the Father, and the Only Begotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit, 

for He has shown us His merciful love.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Attenzione! Listen to the words of our holy father Saint Benedict: "As soon as the cantor begins to sing 'Glory be to the Father,' let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 9:7). Welcome to the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. So, rise from your seats in honor and reverence and sign yourself BIG: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! And as things go smoothly and not so smoothly this week, remember what Jesus tells us in today's Gospel: And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Mt 28:20). Not sometimes, rather, always. Jesus is always with us.  Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten our words and deeds so that we cry with gratitude, "Abba, Father!" May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our faith in you (Ps 33). 

Monday is Memorial Day, a day when our country honors those who have died in military service for the United States. It also happens to be the unofficial start to summer. As we honor the Americans who gave their lives in military service, and get busy this summer, we remember three American priests who not only lost their lives as they served as military chaplains but are also candidates for sainthood! So important were chaplains, that in 1915, British field marshal Sir Douglas Haig (1861-1928) had this to say, "A good chaplain is as valuable as a good general."

SERVANT OF GOD EMIL KAPAUN (India, Burma, and Korea),

SERVANT OF GOD VINCENT CAPODANNO (Vietnam War),

SERVANT OF GOD JOSEPH VERBIS LAFLEUR (World War II in the Philippines),

PRAY FOR US.

As we celebrate today's Solemnity and travel through the last days of May 2024, some of our voices have something to say about the Holy Trinity, others speak of Mary, Our Lady, and one speaks of both. 

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in Himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the "hierarchy of truths of faith."

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 234)

The Virgin Mary, in her docile humility, became the handmaid of divine Love: she accepted the Father's will and conceived the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. In her the Almighty built a temple worthy of Him and made her the model and image of the Church, mystery and house of communion for all human beings. May Mary, mirror of the Blessed Trinity help us to grow in faith of the Trinitarian mystery.

(Pope Bendict XVI, Angelus Address, Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2009)

The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity leads us to contemplate the mystery of God who unceasingly creates, redeems and sanctifies, always with love and through love, and enables every creature that welcomes Him to reflect a ray of His beauty, goodness and truth,

(Pope Francis, Angelus Address, Trinity Sunday, May 27, 2018)

Jesus is Our Lord and Mary is Our Lady. She takes total care and responsibility for us; she happily exercises this dignity and responsibility ...

During your prayer, go to Mary and have a heart-to-heart talk with her. If we put our life into her hands, if we really and truly ask for her help, we can be sure that we will never get into serious trouble because she will provide before we even know it. Only in heaven will we know how many mistakes we avoided, how many sins we did not commit because she was helping us, imploring for us, giving so much to us out of the goodness of her heart.

(Servant of God Ida Peterfy, 1922-2002)

The Blessed Virgin Mary can do more than all the physicians in the world ...

true veneration of the Blessed Virgin consists in not offending her divine Son in any way.

(Saint Crispin of Viterbo, 1668-1750)

There is no surer or easier way than Mary for uniting all persons with Christ.

(Pope Saint Pius X, 1835-1914)

We pray Mary most holy to obtain for us the grace of lives oriented completely toward God. Mary the Virgin knew how to reply: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. May her disposition be ours also. May she who was conceived without sin help us all, poor sinners, to seek only God, to do penance, and to live always for righteousness (1 Pt 2:14) ...

Mary is the "Morning Star" that announces the arrival of the Rising sun, the Sun of Justice, Jesus the Savior. May she bring us to Jesus, she who is the first to believe.

(Francis Cardinal Arinze)

And as we go forth this week, we hear once more from dear Saint Crispin of Viterbo. Just when you feel all dried up and ready to take a breather remember something Saint Crispin said: "Paradise is not for lazybones."! So, as we hear what the Lord God said to the Prophet Ezekiel, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life” (Ezk 37:4-5). Then ask yourself a question from the psalmist included in Saint Benedict's Holy Rule: "Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see good days?" (RB Prologue 15). What will it be then? Keep going.

SAINT PHILIP NERI, "PIPPO BUONO"

SAINT AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY,

BLESSED ANDREW FRANCHI OP,

BLESSED MARGARET POLE, COUNTENSS OF SALISBURY,

BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW BAGNESI OP,

BLESSED ANTONI JULIAN NOWOWIEJSKI,

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

BLESSED RICHARD THIRKELD,

BLESSED JOSEPH GERARD,

BLESSED ELIA OF SAINT CLEMENT,

BLESSED WILLIAM ARNAUD OP AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

SAINT ZDZISLAWA OF LEMBERK OP,

SAINT LUKE KIRBY,

THE YORKSHIRE MARTYRS,

SAINT JOAN OF ARC,

SAINT WALSTAN,

BLESSED JAMES SALOMONIO OP,

SAINT JUSTIN MARTYR,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This beauty bows in honor and reverence for the Most Holy Trinity. For He spoke and it was made.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

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