Wednesday of Holy Week

The Month of April Dedicated both to Devotion to the Eucharist and Devotion to the Holy Spirit

In other years: Saint Irene of Thessalonica, Virgin (4th century); Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest (1350-1419)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 53:16-24 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Is 50:4-9a; Resp Ps 69; Mt 26:14-25

See, you lowly ones, and be glad.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, OUR LORD,

HOLY SPIRIT, WHO GOVERNS THE CHURCH,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, 

That I may know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them ...

The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced ...

See, the Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong?

(Is 50:4, 9a)

As we reflect these days on Saint Benedict's chapter on the reception of guests, we turn first to the Lord with the help of the Prophet Isaiah quoted above and remember that "proper honor must be shown to all" (RB 53:2). And it happens that words from one of our saints of the day might help us honor one another. too 

If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all you heart. Ask Him to simply fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.

(From the treatise On the Spiritual Life by Saint Ferrer, priest, in Office of Readings, April 5)

SAINT IRENE OF THESSALONICA,

SAINT VINCENT FERRER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More happy flowers, this time little ones. Kindness is free; sprinkle that stuff everywhere.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Second Sunday of Advent

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

In other years: Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor of the Church, "Last of the Church Fathers" (675/76-749)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 53:1-16 The Reception of Guests

Mass:  Is 11:1-10; Resp Ps 72; Rm 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

Profound peace, till the moon be no more.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God

(Rm 15:7)

Welcome to the Second Sunday of Advent. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

John the Baptist makes his grand appearance this season and literally appears in the desert and preaches: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Mt 3:1-2). And how might our repentance be evident? It is by the good fruit that we produce (Mt 3:8). Very good fruit, then, is in how we welcome one another, as Saint Paul writes, welcome one another as Christ welcomed us (see Rm 15:7). And that is one reason why our holy father Saint Benedict begins his chapter on the reception of guests in this way: "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for He Himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith and to pilgrims" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 53:1-2). United in faith and prayer, all that we do in word and deed is for the glory of God. For His dwelling shall be glorious (Is 11:10).

Lead me to pastures, Lord, and graze there with me. Do not let my heart lean either to the right or to the left, but let your good Spirit guide me along the straight path. Whatever I do, let it be in accordance with your will, now until the end.

(From The Statement of Faith by Saint John Damascene, priest, in Office of Readings, December 4)

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE,

SAINT MARY ELIZABETH HESSELBLAD,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: By custom, today's photo would be of our Advent wreath with two candles burning. This photo, from an early morning, February 21, 2021, fit so well with the Responsorial Psalm though. Our Advent wreath is coming soon. Justice shall flower in his days.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In other years: Saint Kenelm (-821); Blessed John Sugar, Priest, and Robert Grissold, Martyrs (16-17th century); Blessed Inacio de Azevedo (1528-1570); Blessed Therese of Saint Augustine and Companions (18th century) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 38 The Reader for the Week

Mass: Gn 18:1-10a; Resp Ps 15; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42

The Lord honors those who fear Him.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Martha welcomed Jesus ... Mary sat beside the Lord at His feet.

(Lk 10:38-39)

Buona domenica. Thoughts are few on this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. What goes over and over is this: It took Martha to welcome Jesus so that Mary could sit at His feet. Behold, I stand at the door and knock, says the Lord. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me (Communion Antiphon, Mass). Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Open it up and welcome Him. Then sit at His feet.

It is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is He whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

(Col 1:28)

SAINT KENELM,

BLESSED JOHN SUGAR AND ROBERT GRISSOLD,

BLESSED INACIO DE AZEVEDO,

BLESSED THERESE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE AND COMPANIONS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: When doing the dishes, I glance now and then at this. It's a privilege.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Second Sunday of Advent

Year of Saint Joseph

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

In other years: Saint John Almond (c,1565-1612; Saint Birinus (7th century); Saint Hedda (-7050; Blessed Bartholomew Fanit (c.1428-1495)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 53:16-23 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Baruch 5:1-9; Resp Ps 126; Ph 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6

The Lord has done great things for us.

HEART OF JESUS, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Welcome to the Second Week of Advent, this holy "period of devout and expectant delight". Last Sunday we were talking about removing things that burden us, things that make us drowsy. We are meant during this time to stand tall and be alert so that we are clear in mind and heart to remember the birth of Jesus, and to look forward to His Second Coming. How did your week go? No matter, we can always begin again as we hear from John the Baptist in today's Gospel. He is the voice crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." (Lk 3:4). So why not listen to Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty: "Let every day be the day of beginning again, of loving Christ a little more, of hungering for him a little more, of turning our face to him. To accomplish this, all we need to do is to look at the person next to us. We must never forget that we shall be judged on love alone. And that there is only one way to love God and "prove it" to him: by loving our "neighbor," the person next to us at any given moment." Catherine's words are fitting too for Saint Benedict's Chapter 53 on the Reception of Guests. Our holy father Benedict begins in this way: "All guests themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Mt 25:35). Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith, and to pilgrims" (RB 53:1-2). We don't have to wait for guests either, or look outside our homes, communities, places of work, or even very far, for the guest is the person next to us at any given moment. 

SAINT JOHN ALMOND,

SAINT BIRINIUS,

SAINT HEDDA,

BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW FANIT,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our Advent Wreath, lit for the Second Week of this holy season.

© Gertrude Feick 2021