Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Saints: Saint Fursa or Fursey (-c.650); Saint Joseph Vaz (1651-1711); Pope Saint Marcellus I (255-309); Saint Priscilla, Roman Matron (1st century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 3:1-6 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: Heb 5:1-10; Resp Ps 110; Mk 2:18-22

Sit at my right hand.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, KING OF GLORY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

All the earthly shall bow down before you, O God, 

and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

Welcome to Monday and we know how Mondays go. Monday is Monday wherever one finds herself. Reflecting on what I might include in today's reflection, it came to me during Lauds when we sung Psalm (66) 67: "The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him." Thanks be to God. United in faith and prayer, we go forth. Thank you for being there, faithful readers. And one last thing (kind of ☺), today we commemorate Saint Priscilla, Roman matron of the first century. The catacombs of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria in Rome are awesome. They are full of frescoes, so well preserved they look like they were painted yesterday. One fresco is said to be the earliest image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then there is the one of the three young men in the fiery furnace, and ... Check those catacombs out if you get the chance. They are my favorite ones to visit. And the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Priscilla look after the sacred site. 

Try to gather more frequently to give thanks to God and to praise Him. For when you come together frequently, Satan's powers are undermined, and the destruction that he threatens is done away with in the unanimity of your faith. Nothing is better than peace, in which all warfare between heaven and earth is brought to an end. 

(From a letter to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr, 

in Office of Readings, Second Week in Ordinary Time, Monday) 

SAINT FURSA,

SAINT JOSEPH VAZ,

POPE SAINT MARCELLUS,

SAINT PRISCILLA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Near the path overlooking the Mattole River, last Friday. He guides me along the right path.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

In other years: Saint Ita (c.475-570); Feast of Santo Nino (Holy Child), Philippines; Saint Remigius, Remy or Remi (437-533); Saint Paul, the First Hermit (c.227-341); Saint Mauro, Abbot (6th century); Saint John Calibita, Monk (d. 450)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:33-40 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: Is 49:3, 5-6; Resp Ps 40; 1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34   

He stooped toward me and heard my cry.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US. 

JESUS, LAMB OF GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

To you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Cor 1:2-3)

Saint Paul's greeting to the Corinthians is extended to us and is a wonderful way to begin this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Made glorious in the sight of the Lord with God as our strength (see Is 49:5), we go forth this day, united in faith and prayer, and inspired by Saint Ignatius of Antioch who reminds us of something Saint Benedict teaches in the Holy Rule about our behavior in the presence of God and His angels. In his chapter on the discipline of the psalmody, our holy father Benedict calls us to "stand to sing the psalms in such a way that our minds are in harmony with our voices" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 19:6-7).

So in the harmony of mind and heart the song you sing is Jesus Christ. Every one of you should form a choir, so that, in harmony of sound through harmony of hearts, and in unity taking the note from God, you may sing through one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father. If you do this, He will listen to you and see from your good works that you are members of His Son. It is then an advantage to you to live in perfect unity, so that at all times you may share in God.

(From a Letter to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time)

SAINT ITA,

SAINT REMIGIUS,

SAINT PAUL THE FIRST HERMIT,

SAINT MAURO,

SAINT JOHN CALIBITA,

SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,

SAINT BENEDICT OF NURSIA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From Friday afternoon's return from the garden. A hymn to our God.

© Gertrude Feick 2023