Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

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

Saints:Saint Dunstan, Benedictine monk, Archbishop of Canterbury (909-988); Saint Milburga (-c.715); Saint Ivo or Yves, Patron of lawyers (1253-1303); Blessed Raphael Louis Rafiringa (1856-1919); Saint Francis Coll Guitart OP (1812-1875)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:1-21 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Acts 15:17-21; Resp Ps 96; Jn 15:9-11

Sing to the Lord a new song.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else., 

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:20-21)

They are certainly words to take to heart and into action in our daily lives, those that come from our holy father Saint Benedict above, from his chapter on the tools for good works. "First of all," however, love the Lord God with your whole heart, your whole soul and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:1-2). Remain in my love (Jn 15:9), says the Lord. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete (Jn 15:11). 

God loves a cheerful giver. 

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 5:16/2 Cor 9:7)

SAINT DUNSTAN,

SAINT MILBURGA,

SAINT IVO OR YVES,

BLESSED RAPHAEL LOUIS RAFIRINGA,

SAINT FRANCIS COLL GUITART,

SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA,

SAINT MARIE RIVIER,

SAINT CAROLINA SANTOCANALE,

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

SAINT DEVASAHAYAM PILLAI,

SAINT CESAR DE BUS,

SAINT LUIGI MARIA PALAZZOLA,

SAINT JUSTIN RUSSOLILLO,

SAINT ANNA MARIA RUBATTO,

SAINT MARIA DOMENICA MANTOVANI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This beauty is just outside the entrance to our church. Tell His glory among the nations.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

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

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks

Mass: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Resp Ps 96; Lk 2:36-40

Give to the Lord glory and praise.

JESUS, OUR WAY AND OUR LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's first reading, from the First Letter of Saint John, John writes: "Do not love the world or the things of the world" (1 Jn 2:15). Saint Benedict echoes the same in the Holy Rule. In Chapter 2, "Qualities of the Abbot," Benedict counsels the leader of the monastic community that he "must not show too great concern for the fleeting and temporal things of this world" (RB 2:33). And a Tool for Good Works for the entire community to use, day in and day out, is to make their way of acting different from the world's way (RB 4:20). What are some ways, then, that all the faithful can abide by these teachings? We can look again to Saint Benedict, today presented in a most beautiful chapter, Chapter 72, "The Good Zeal of Monks." On this penultimate day of 2021, we read about good zeal for the third and final time this year. May we then, along with the Abbot, not neglect or treat lightly the welfare of anyone entrusted to us (RB 2:33) and remember at all times that the love of Christ must come before all else (RB 4:21). Yet the world and its enticements are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever (1 Jn 2:17)

CHAPTER 72. The Good Zeal of Monks

Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other, supporting with greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.

SAINT JOHN,

SAINT BENEDICT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Berries with snow, from d in West Linn, OR. Very nice. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021