Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

July is the month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Our Lord

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 42 Silence after Compline - Ch 47 Announcing the Hours for the Work of God

Only goodness and kindness follow me.

BLOOD OF CHRIST, INCARNATE WORD OF GOD,

SAVE US.

MARY, MOTHER OF HOPE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The Lord, our justice.

(Jer 23:6)

For He is our peace ...

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

(Ephesians 2:14, 17-18)

Welcome to the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. May the peace of Our Lord be with us. Thank you for tuning in. Today, and throughout this week, whether you are near or far, rest in the peace of the Lord; He is our peace. Go ahead, listen to Jesus: "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). May we have "the grace to set aside time to be with the Eucharistic Lord in silence and prayer, and to find rest in the heart of Christ." And since Saint Benedict reminds us this week to diligently cultivate silence at all times, especially at night (Rule of Saint Benedict, 42:1), may the last word we speak before settling in for the night be Mary, "O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary." Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

On the newsy news front, my brother in Indianapolis has sent a few reports of the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. The closing Mass was this morning at the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, and last night to some 50,000 people on their knees before the Blessed Sacrament during the nightly Holy Hours. How cool is that. There was also an "unbelievable" procession through downtown Indianapolis on Saturday. Give God the praise for the witness of these members of the faithful.

And now a word or two from our voices for the week. 

I am slowly going through a delightful little book by Elizabeth A. Johnson, Come, Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and the Earth (Orbis, 2024). Not a book I would normally select, it was recommended by a trusted mentor, and then gifted by a longtime friend. So, I am giving it a go and finding it just what the doctor ordered. I include, then, a couple of passages I've marked.

Rather than suppressing the gifts of the other, love brings about their flourishing. Rather than stifling the power to act freely, love promotes its growth.

(Elizabeth A. Johnson, Come, Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and the Earth, p. 20)

As God's good creation, the world becomes a free partner in its own becoming while the Creator enables its existence at every moment. To put this succinctly, God creates the world by empowering the world to make itself. Far from compelling the world to develop according to a pre-destined plan, the Spirit continually calls forth to a fresh and unexpected future.

Be imaginative for a moment. It is as if the Creator gave the world a push saying, "Go, have an adventure, see what you can become. And I will be with you every step of the way."

(Elizabeth A. Johnson, Come, Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and the Earth, p. 21)

As swimmers dare

to lie face to the sky

and water bears them,

so would I learn to attain

freefall, and float

into Creator's Spirit's deep embrace,

knowing no effort earns

that all-surrounding grace.

(Denise Levertov in Elizabeth A. Johnson, Come, Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and the Earth , p. 143) 

Always seek this beautiful virtue of humility, which the Blessed Virgin will teach you. She will make you live in the truth, so that you might love and serve only the Lord.

(Saint Maria Maravillas of Jesus, 1891-1974)

Do not be afraid. Open your hearts to Christ. The deepest joy in life is the joy that comes from God and is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the hope of the world. Jesus Christ is your hope and mine!

(Pope Saint John Paul II, Teleconference with the Young People, Los Angeles, CA, September 15, 1987)

An echo from an earlier post, worth a repeat performance ...

Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter.

(Saint Padre Pio, 1887-1968)

And some parting words from "The Good Pope."

It's your Church, Lord, I'm going to bed. ☺

(Pope Saint John XXIII, when turning in for the night)

SAINT LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI,

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE,

SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN,

SAINTS PHILIP EVANS AND JOHN LLOYD,

OUR LADY, MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE,

SAINT CHARBEL MAKHLOUF,

SAINT DECLAN,

SAINT JOHN BOSTE,

BLESSED ROBERT LUDLAM AND NICHOLAS GARLICK,

BLESSED JOHN SORETH,

BLESSED MARIA MERCEDES PRAT,

SAINT JAMES,

SAINT ANNA AND JOACHIM, PARENTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

BLESSED ROBERT SUTTON,

BLESSED RUDOLPH ACQUAVIVA AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT PANTALEON,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: All the days of my life.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

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

Saint: Blessed Mary of the Angels (1661-1717); Saint David, King and Prophet (1040 BC-940 BC); Saint Adelaide, Empress (931-999)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 61:6-14 The Reception of Visiting Monks

Mass: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8; Resp Ps 67; Jn 5:33-36

The earth has yielded its fruits.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, 

my justice about to be revealed.

(Is 56:1)

One way to observe what is right and do what is just, as the Prophet Isaiah prophesies the word of the Lord in today's first reading, is to keep the sabbath free from profanation. And one way to do that is to pray without ceasing (1 Th 5:17), as Saint Paul writes. And what might that mean? We turn to Saint Augustine.

Pray without ceasing. Are we then ceaselessly to bend our knees, to lie prostrate, or to lift up our hands? Is this what is meant in saying: Pray without ceasing? Even if we admit we pray in this fashion, I do not believe that we can do so all the same.

Yet there is another, interior kind of prayer without ceasing, namely, the desire of the heart. Whatever else you may be doing, if you but fix your desire on God's Sabbath rest, your prayer will be ceaseless. Therefore, if you wish to pray without ceasing, do not cease to desire.

The constancy of your desire will itself be the ceaseless voice of your prayer.

(From a discourse on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, Third Week of Advent, Friday)

In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

(1 Th 5:18)

BLESSED MARY OF THE ANGELS,

SAINT DAVID,

SAINT ADELAIDE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: God, our God, has blessed us.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saints: Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux, Cistercian monk, Older brother of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1138); Saint Davnet (7th century); Saint Lidwina (1380-1433); Saint Elisha (1-2 Kings, Prophet); Blessed Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949)

Someone to remember: G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), “Read him, and pray for him.”

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

Mass: 1 Kgs 21:17-29; Resp Ps 51; Mt 5:43-48

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

(Mt 5:44)

Jesus' words above, and Father Gabriele's prayer below should keep us busy enough as we commemorate Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux. After all, we want to be children of our heavenly Father, for He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Mt 5:45). Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.

I want to forgive all those who have offended me. Look to those inner sores that make me unable to forgive. You who came to forgive the afflicted of heart, please, heal my own heart.

(Father Gabriele Amorth, d. 2016, who was the Chief Exorcist of Rome, Italy)

BLESSED GERARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA FO THE EUCHARIST.

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our pomegranate tree on the move. Be merciful, O Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Saint: Our Lady of Fatima; Saint Erconwald (-693); Blessed Imelda Lambertini OP (c.1321-1333)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 1:16-22 Qualities of the Abbot 

Mass: Acts 13:26-33; Resp Ps 2; Jn 14:1-6

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before Him.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, CORNERSTONE OF FAMILIES,

PRAY FOR US.

For starters on this Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, remembering too that we are still in the Year of the Family, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has invited the faithful to unite in a Day of Fasting and Praying the Rosary. There are several prayer intentions that can be found on the USCCB website, including these two:

For our nation, for the integrity of our judicial system, and that all branches of government be dedicated to seeking the common good and protecting the dignity and rights of the human person, from conception to natural death.

For Our Blessed Mother's intercession and guidance as the Church continues to walk with mothers and families in need, and continues to promote alternatives to abortion, and create a culture of life.

Secondly, Jesus offers support and solace in His loving heart: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me (Jn 14:1). I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me (Jn 14:6), says the Lord. United in faith and prayer, with trust and hope, we follow Jesus to the Father.

The ardent need for justice, this benevolent flame within, this deep love for suffering and groaning humanity, all this is and can only be an unconscious turning toward this infinite Love and infinite Justice, toward this supreme Goodness that is God.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, pp. 151-152) 

OUR LADY OF FATIMA,

VENERABLE JEROME LEJEUNE,

SERVANT OF GOD ELISABETH LESEUR,

SAINT ERCONWALD,

BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This one makes me dizzy 😎 A recent guest and faithful reader captured this "look from reclining position" on our property. It is certainly cause for rejoicing before Him. With trembling rejoice!

© Gertrude Feick 2022