Monday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Saints: Saint Emily de Rodat (1787-1852); Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr (early 4th century); Saint Theodore of Tarsus (601-690)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:22-43 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Proverbs 3:27-34; Resp Ps 15; Lk 8:16-18

The just one shall live on your holy mountain.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, HELP OF THE NEEDY,

PRAY FOR US.

To the humble the Lord shows kindness.

(Pr 3:34)

Welcome to Monday and this one is a day to let your light shine so that others come to know the Light through your light. 🌞

Why not grab a tool or two from Saint Benedict's Tools for Good Works for help, with a friendly reminder that our "way of acting should be different than the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else" (RB 4:20-21). Any one of these tools will keep us busy enough. What is your tool of choice today?

You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge.

Rid yourself of all deceit.

Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away from someone who needs your love.

Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false.

Speak the truth with heart and tongue.

Do not repay one bad turn for another.

Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently.

Love your enemies.

If people curse you, do not curse them back but bless them instead.

Endure persecution for the sake of justice.

You must not be proud, nor be given to wine.

Refrain from too much eating or sleeping, and from laziness.

Do not grumble or speak ill of others.

Place your hope in God alone.

If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself, but be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:22-43)

Whew! 😓

My Redeemer has a claim upon my love, and I do not forget how He questioned Peter, and asked: Do you love me, Peter? Then feed my sheep. He asked this once, then again, then a third time. He inquired about his love, and then He gave him work to do; for the greater one's love is, the easier the work.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, September 19)

Love Himself gives love to us so that we might love with that Love. 

The world was transformed by the light of this love.

(Dr. Matthew Minerd, from Made by God, Made for God: Catholic Morality Explained, in Magnificat, Meditation of the Day, September 18, 2022, p. 276)

The lamp of faith will always be lit on earth as long as there is the oil of prayer.

(Vatican News, @PONTIFEX, September 19, 2022)

SAINT EMILY DE RODAT,

SAINT JANUARIUS,

SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From the area near Mount Adams in southern Washington, see Mount Ranier in the distance. Catherine reports that Mount Adams looks a LOT like Rainier! 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Saints: Holy Abbots of Cluny, Saints Odo, Mailous, Odilo and Hugh; The Carthusian Martyrs (16th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:1-10 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: Acts 12:24-13Christ:5a; Resp Ps 67; Jn 12:44-50

May God bless us.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

The word of God continued to spread and grow.

(Acts 12:24)

Jesus cries out to us today: I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness (Jn 12:46). Dear Lord, we believe, help our unbelief. May we receive the Light and, through word and deed, be shining lights for others. May all the people praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you!

Christ must live in us, so that we might give Him to others.

(E. Leseur, The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 162)

A simple contact can sometimes be the best sermon; a spark can start a great flame.

(ibid, p. 164)

HOLY ABBOTS OF CLUNY,

THE CARTHUSIAN MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Enjoy these fairy bells, fitting for a blessing. Thank you, dear Catherine.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Saints: Saint Asicus (-c.490); Saint Maughold (?); Blessed Hosanna of Kotor OP (1493-1565)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 69 The Presumption of Defending Another in the Monastery

Mass: Acts 5:17-26; Resp Ps 34; Jn 3:16-21

Glorify the Lord with me.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

(Jn 8:12)

We couldn't begin today's Gospel with better news: God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life (Jn 3:16). And may we be inspired by the closing of today's Gospel: Whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God (Jn 3:21). Jesus loves you. Walk in the Light! 

When darkness falls upon us (as when the electricity fails), we have to stop and perhaps re-orient ourselves.

(Father Francis Mahier, ocso, 1912-2002)

If you find yourself in a dark place today, either in mind or heart, stop, re-orient. Stay close to Jesus and follow His Light. I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, and have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, alleluia (Gospel verse, Mass).

SAINT ASICUS,

SAINT MAUGHOLD,

BLESSED HOSANNA OF KOTOR,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I took this one yesterday, just before late afternoon Mass. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

Year of Saint Joseph

Other saints: Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr (1118-1170); Saint Trophimus, Bishop (?Third Century); Saint Marcellus Akimetes, Abbot (c. 485); Saint Ebrulf, Abbot (396); Bd William Howard, Martyr (1680)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 71 Mutual Obedience

Mass: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Resp Ps 96; Lk 2:22-35

Splendor and majesty go before Him; praise and grandeur are His sanctuary.

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

There is not much questioning to be done with this: "The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep His commandments." And "This is the way we may know that we are in union with Him: whoever claims to abide in Him ought to walk just as He walked" (1 Jn 2:3, 5-6). Primarily we are to walk in the Lord's way of love, the way of light. Love is demanding as we know well from Saint Paul: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrong-doing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things ... (1 Cor 13:4ff). So let's not be a resounding gong or a clashing symbol (1 Cor 13:1). May we instead love our brothers and sisters and remain in the light of love with all its joys, sorrows, struggles and contradictions. Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Lk 2:35). 

The Son of God was born an outcast, in order to tell us that every outcast is a child of God. He came into the world as each child comes into the world, weak and vulnerable, so that we can learn to accept our weaknesses with tender love.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, December 29, 2020)

SAINT THOMAS BECKET,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A bit of beauty around 7:30 p.m. last night.

© Gertrude Feick 2020