Third Sunday of Lent

March is the month dedicated to Saint Joseph

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 26 Unauthorized Association with the Excommunicated - Ch 31 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer

Come, let us bow down in worship.

SAINT JOSEPH, GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR,

MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

We proclaim Christ crucified ...

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

(1 Cor 1:22, 24-25)

The world lives unmindful of the sufferings of Jesus, which are the miracle of miracles of the Love of God ... Christ crucified is the work of love, the most stupendous work of the love of God. The bottomless sea of the love of God, where virtues are found, where one can lose oneself in love and sorry.

(Saint Paul of the Cross, 1694-1775)

Welcome to the Third Sunday of Lent in the month of March dedicated to Saint Joseph, spouse of the Mother of God, guardian of the Redeemer, most diligent protector of Christ; dear Joseph, strong, obedient, faithful. We continue to pray for those preparing to enter the Church at Easter who today receive the First Scrutiny. May they persevere and grow in faith. And so may all the faithful. I believe, help my unbelief. 

Some time ago I quoted Willi Graf (1918-1943), who said, "To be a Christian is perhaps the hardest thing to ever become in life." It is true. Otherwise, why would Father Jacques Phillipe (b. 1947) bother to tell us that "the Christian life is a combat, a war without mercy." We proclaim Christ crucified, certainly a stumbling block to Jews and Greeks alike (see 1 Cor 1:23), and countless others. 

However, we are called and so we respond. Rely on the strength of God. Need we question, "Is the Lord in our midst or not?" (Ex 17:7). I think not. The Lord is in our midst, here, there, and everywhere. Keep the faith; keep going. For, "what the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people ... capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life" (Pope Francis, Porta Fidei 15). However, we have to start with ourselves. By God's grace, I am what I am.

We are to hear the words of the Father applied to ourselves: This is by beloved Son ...

The entire Christian life can be understood as the progressive knowing of ourselves as the Father's beloved children. The project of the Christian life is to train our ears to hear these words and our hearts to accept them ...

To encounter Christ is to encounter ourselves. When we behold his glory, we learn our lofty calling and goal. When we listen to His words, we learn the path to such glory.

(Father Paul Scalia, priest in the diocese of Arlington, VA, son of Justice Antonin Scalia, d 2016, who served on the United States Supreme Court for 30 years)

The sword of the spirit, the word of God, must abound in your mouths and hearts. Let all you do have the Lord's word for accompaniment.

(Saint Albert of Jerusalem, 1149-1214)

Our charity should not know limits; it cannot exclude anyone on earth, in purgatory, or in heaven.

(Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, 1877-1964)

Love of our neighbors is the greatest act of gratitude that we can show God for His love. Love is the first thing that God requires of us, and whoever walks in His love remains in God and God in them!

(Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter, 1907-1943)

Abide in the love of Jesus Christ; always sit before His face; walk along with Him; converse with Him unceasingly.

(Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara of the Holy Family, 1805-1871)

A man without love, a religious without love is like a shadow without sun, totally nothing ... Love is the soul, light, and life of the religious life and of each human association.

(Saint Stanislaus Papczynski, 1631-1701)

United in faith and prayer, we go forth and listen to Saint Benedict when he quotes from the Book of Sirach: "A kind word is better than the best gift" (see Rule of Saint Benedict, 31:14/Sirach 18:17). Thank you for being there, faithful readers. 

Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things.

(Saint David of Wales, 6th century, his last words)

SAINT KATHARINE DREXEL,

SAINT VIGNAL,

SAINT SAMPSON,

SAINT MAGLIORE,

SAINT CASIMIR JAGIELLON, PATRON SAINT OF POLAND AND YOUNG PEOPLE, 

SAINT KIERAN,

SAINT JOHN JOSEPH,

SAINT KYNEBURGHA,

SAINT COLETTE OF CORBIE,

SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY,

SAINT STEPHEN OF OBAZINE, CISTERCIAN ABBOT,

SAINT JOHN OF GOD,

SAINT SENAN, BISHOP,

SAINT DUTHAC,

SAINT FELIX,

SAINT FRANCES OF ROME,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: We've had a bit of snow; it's wet and heavy. Let us kneel before the Lord who made us.

© Gertrude Feick 2024

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

The Month of March Devoted to Saint Joseph

Saint: Saint Macartan, Companion of Saint Patrick (-506); Saint Catherine of Sweden, Daughter of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Friend of Saint Catherine of Siena (1331/2-1381)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 44 Satisfaction by the Excommunicated

Mass: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22; Resp Ps 34; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

SAINT JOSEPH, MOST JUST,

PRAY FOR US.

They said among themselves, thinking not aright ...

To us, [the just one] is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us.

Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways.

(Wisdon 2:1a, 14-15)

They (we) certainly were (are) not thinking aright. God's ways are not our ways (see Is 55:8); so high are His ways above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts (see Is 55:8-9). I find all these prophetic words comforting. At the same time, it is possible to be uncomfortable with these words as were those presented to us in the reading from the Book of Wisdom, those who reviled the just one, those who tortured him and put him to the test and condemned him to a shameful death (see Wisdom 2:19-20). It is not easy to be called to task, to have weaknesses and wounds made more evident. However, God's grace is sufficient; His power is made perfect in weakness (see 2 Cor 12:9). May we stand unprotected before the Lord in prayer and ask for His mercy and kindness as we proclaim with Saint Paul, "I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me" (2 Cor 12:9).

Let us recall that we are always seen by God in heaven, that our actions everywhere are in God's sight and are reported by angels at every hour ...

We believe that the divine presence is everywhere and that in every place the eyes of the Lord are watching the good and the wicked.

(Rule of Saint Benedict 7:13; 19:1)

Love makes a demand that cannot leave me untouched. In love I cannot simply remain myself, but I always have to lose myself by having rough edges taken off, by being hurt. And it is just this-that it hurts me so as to bring out more of my potential-it seems to me, that constitutes the greatness of love, that is part of its healing power.*

SAINT MACARTAN,

SAINT PATRICK,

SAINT CATHERINE OF SWEDEN,

SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN,

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA,

SAINT BENEDICT,**

PRAY FOR US.

* Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in God and the World: Believing and Living in Our Times A Conversation with Peter Seewald (Ignatius Press, 2002), pp. 83-84.

** With two saints commemorated today, we end up invoking four others as they are all related by blood or friendship and all of them related in the bond of faith. That makes us related to them too! We give thanks and praise to God for the gift of faith and the continuity of tradition. United in faith and prayer, we carry it on. I believe, help my unbelief.

Today's photo: We have been busy this week with scenes from Laetare Sunday.  When the just cry out, the Lord hears them.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Saturday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

For the Poor Souls in Purgatory

First Saturday of the Month

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Saint Domninus, Teothimus and Companions, Martyrs (3rd-4th century); Blessed Frances d'Amboise (1427-1485); Blessed Bernard Lichtenberg, Priest and Martyr (1875-1943)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 29 Readmission of Brothers Who Leave the Monastery

Mass: Ph 4:10-19; Resp Ps 112; Lk 16:9-15

The upright generation shall be blessed.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, HELP OF ALL CHRISTIANS,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

PRAY FOR US.

I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.

(Ph 4:13)

What is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.

(Lk 16:15)

Welcome to the First Saturday of the Month. We have more saints to commemorate and also dedicate the day to Our Blessed Mother. With Jesus, His Mother Mary, and all the saints in glory, we are good to go.

May your poor heart encounter in the Most Blessed Virgin Mary the tenderness of a mother, of a sister-that is what really matters. May you speak to Her with total honesty; talk of Her divine Son; ask Her for anything; and have confidence in Her. Then you'll see, things will go well for you ...

with God, I can do all things, and with Mary's help, I can do even more ... You'll see how, with those two things, and without relying on ourselves for anything at all, we'll become saints ...

(Saint Rafael Arnaiz in a November 27, 1935, letter to his Aunt Maria Osorio)

SAINTS DOMNINUS, THEOTHIMUS AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED FRANCES D'AMBROISE,

BLESSED BERNARD LICHTENBERG,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A rose for Our Lady. Mary, comfort of all those who mourn, pray for us.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Saints: Saint Chad (-672); Saint Cedd (-664): Pope Saint Evaristus (d. 107)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 19 The Discipline of the Psalmody

Mass: Eph 6:1-9; Resp Ps 145; Lk 13:22-30

The Lord lifts up all who are falling.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Let us consider how we ought to behave in the presence of God and His angels, and let us 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)

If we do the will of God from the heart (see Eph 6:6), we will enter through the narrow gate (see Lk 13:24). Jesus never said it was going to be easy. And as Saint Benedict tells us, "Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset" (RB Prologue 48). We pray for the strength to keep going. Not my will, Lord, be done, but Yours. 

Let us put on unity of mind, thinking humble thoughts, exercising self-control, keeping ourselves free from all backbiting and slander, being righteous in deed, and not in word only ...

It is our duty then to be eager to do good, for everything is from God ... He urges us, who believe in Him with all our heart, not to be idle or careless in any good work. Our boasting and our confidence must rest on Him. Let us be subject to His will.

(From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope, in Office of Readings, Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday)

SAINT CHAD,

SAINT CEDD,

POPE SAINT EVARISTUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Saints of the Day: Saints Chad and Cedd were brothers, both educated at Lindisfarne under Saint Aidan (d. 651). And a fun fact you've heard before is that I know a Chad and a Cedd, both Benedictine monks in the UK. 

Today's photo: This one from the archives, 2019. And raises up all who are bowed down.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Pope Saint Leo the Great, Doctor of the Church (d. 461)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 33 Personal Possessions in the Monastery
Mass: Ph 4:10-19; Resp Ps 112; Lk 16:9-15

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.