Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Botolph (7th century)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 13:12-14

Mass: 2 Cor 11:1-11; Resp Ps 111; Mt 6:7-15

Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights.

IN PRAYING DO NOT BABBLE ... YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU ASK HIM ... 
THIS IS HOW YOU ARE TO PRAY.
(Mt 6:7-9)

It it nice how things work out sometimes. For example, this week in the Office of Readings, the second reading has been from Saint Cyprian's treatise on the Lord's Prayer. I have quoted from it a few times. Then today our Gospel has Jesus teaching us to pray with the Lord's Prayer, the most perfect prayer, says Saint Thomas Aquinas. Alongside the treatise and the Gospel, we have our daily reading from the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict. Today, in chapter 13, Saint Benedict tells us that the celebration of Lauds and Vespers should never pass by without the superior's reciting the entire Lord's Prayer at the end for all to hear, because thorns of contention are likely to spring up (RB 13:12). We pledge ourselves to one another with the words Forgive us as we forgive, so we may be cleansed of this kind of vice (RB 13:13). God help us. 

What then are some things Saint Cyprian has to say? We ask for pardon for our sins with the words and forgive us our trespasses. Here, writes Saint Cyprian, we are "to be reminded that we are sinners and forced to ask for forgiveness for our faults is prudent and sound. Even while we are asking for God's forgiveness, our hearts are aware of our state! This command to pray daily for our sins reminds us that we commit sin every day. No one should complacently think himself innocent, lest his pride lead to further sin. Such is the warning that John gives us in his letter: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins. His letter includes both points, that we should beg for forgiveness for our sins, and that we receive pardon when we do. He calls the Lord faithful, because he remains loyal to his promise, by forgiving us our sins. He taught us to pray for our sins and our faults, and also promised to show us a father's mercy and forgiveness" (Office of Readings, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday). But deliver us from evil. 

Sadly, I forgot to include this yesterday on the commemoration of Saint Richard of Chichester. It is Saint Richard's Prayer. The words inspired the song "Day by Day" from the musical Godspell. 

Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ

for all the benefits which thou hast given us,

for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for us; 

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,

may we know thee more clearly,

love thee more dearly,

and follow thee more nearly.

Amen.

SAINT BOTOLPH,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Going through my photos I realized I neglected to use this. It's a banana slug, seen some time ago now. At the time, I was so happy to finally see one. And since these creatures do not move so quickly, I was able to go fetch my camera, with time to spare even. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Lutgardis of Aywieres, Cistercian nun (1182-1246); Saint Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 13:1-11 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days

Mass: 2 Cor 9:6-11; Resp Ps 112; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

His generosity shall endure forever; His horn shall be exalted in glory.

EACH MUST DO AS ALREADY DETERMINED, WITHOUT SADNESS OR COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.

(2 Cor 9:7)

I like today's Gospel. It takes me to Ash Wednesday, one of my favorite days in the liturgical year. I remember these words of Jesus from childhood so I always wanted to dress nice on Ash Wednesday. After all, Jesus was saying to not look gloomy or neglect my appearance, even though we were entering a penitential season. In any case, give alms in secret, pray to your Father in secret, and if you are going to fast, don't let it be known to others. God knows the depths of the heart and God your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you (Mt 6:18). 

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; we pray not that God should do His will, but that we may carry out His will. How could anyone prevent the Lord from doing what He wills? But in our prayer we ask that God's will be done in us, because the devil throws up obstacles to prevent our mind and our conduct from obeying God in all things. So if His will is to be done in us we have need of His will, that is, His help and protection.

(From a treatise on the Lord's Prayer by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday)

With prayer and with life, all that is left for us is to have courage, hope, and with this courage and hope to experience strongly the prayer of Jesus and go forward so that our life might give glory to God in the awareness that He prays for me to the Father, that Jesus prays for us.

(Pope Francis, General Audience, June 16, 2021)

SAINT LUTGARDIS OF AYWIERES,

SAINT RICHARD OF CHICHESTER,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Two of "fuschia enjoying the rain." 😊

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Blessed Peter Snow (1567-1598) and Ralph Grimston (?-1598)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 12 The Celebration of the Solemnity of Lauds

Mass: 2 Cor 8:1-9; Resp Ps 146; Mt 5:43-48

Praise the Lord, my soul!

I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT; 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Mt 5:44). Saint Benedict echoes Our Lord's teaching in his tools for good works when he tells us to pray for our enemies out of love for Christ (RB 4:72). Here's what some of the other saints have to say about this:

You shall not hate any man; but some you shall admonish, and pray for others, and still others you shall love more than your own life.

(Teachings of the Twelve Apostles)

A man who is well disposed toward and loves those who revile and abuse him and cause him harm, and who prays for them, in short time attains great achievements.

(Saint Simeon the New Theologian, 949-1022)

Our friends, then, are all those who unjustly afflict us with trials and ordeals, shame and injustice, sorrows and torments, martyrdom and death; we must love them greatly for we all possess eternal life because of them.

(Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226)

In our neighbor, we should observe only what is good.

(Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, 1572-1641)

At the end of our life, we shall be judged by our love.

(Saint John of the Cross, 1542-1591)

BLESSED PETER SNOW AND RALPH GRIMSTON,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The first of two "Fuschia enjoying the rain". Thanks to d in West Linn, OR.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux (1120-1177); Saint Davnet (7th century); Saint Lidwina (1380-1433); Saint Elisha, Prophet (1-2 Kings); Blessed Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

Mass: 2 Cor 6:1-10; Resp Ps 98; Mt 5:38-42

Break into song; sing praise.

WHEN YOU GIVE TO HIM, GIVE FREELY AND NOT WITH ILL WILL; FOR THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WILL BLESS YOU FOR THIS IN ALL YOUR WORKS AND UNDERTAKINGS.

(Dt 15:10)

When pressed into service today, even "through glory and dishonor, insult and praise" (2 Cor 6:8), go the extra mile.

Give to everyone who asks thee, and do not refuse for the Father's will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received.

(Teachings of the Twelve Apostles)

The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.

(Saint Basil the Great, 330-379)

BLESSED GERARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA OF THE EUCHARIST,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. Cistercians celebrate the optional memorial of Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux, a brother of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Their relationship was close. A sermon worth reading is Bernard of Clairvaux On the Song of Songs, Sermon 26. It is Bernard's lament for the death of his beloved brother. Among other ways, Bernard praised Gerard this way: "What a busy man he was! What a trustworthy friend! Though always glad to be in the company of friends, he was never thereby prevented from answering the call of charity. Who ever went away from him empty-handed? The rich found enlightenment, the poor were given alms. Nor did he seek his own advantage, he who shouldered every burden that I might be free."

Today's photo: This is was taken a few weeks ago. I like the white specks on the underside of the leaf. And the color of the flowers is a favorite.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

In other years: Saint Anthony of Padua, Patron Saint of the Lost and Found (1195?-1231)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 10 The Arrangement of the Night Office in Summer

Mass: Ezk 17:22-24; Resp Ps 92; 2 Cor 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

A few things stimulate scattered reflections on this Sunday in Ordinary Time, reflections which make the day anything but ordinary. In God we trust. 😊

First, it is that mustard seed that Jesus talks about in the Gospel, the mustard seed that is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth yet springs up and becomes the largest of plants (Mk 4:31-32). Second, a little book that I am slowly reading by Bieke Vandederckhove, the taste of silence: how I came to be at home with myself (Liturgical Press, 2015). Bieke (1969-2015), a Belgian, was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 19 that left her paralyzed from the pelvis up. Third, it was turning to my trusty Quotable Saints (Servant, 1992) by Ronda De Sola Chervin. 

There is a chapter in Bieke's book entitled what confuses (pp. 61-65). Her main theme is described well by the title, that "evil is predictable." She writes, "We can analyze it perfectly, explain it in detail. What causes confusion is the good. Goodness is unintelligible, because there is no rational explanation for it" (p. 64). Bieke relates then about the evil in her life, what and how she suffers, her bouts of anger, jealousy and bitterness, callousness and irritability, "all eminently understandable in the context of my life" (p. 65). Then there are people who avoid her, belittle her, show fear or disgust. "The same with evil in the world", she writes, "it's not difficult to explain." Then there is her husband who "against all logic", enjoys Bieke, shares her life, loves her unconditionally. What confuses Bieke is this: "Beyond understanding is the goodness, completely altruistic, that surfaces in the world, everywhere, over and over again" (p. 65). Related to the the tiny mustard seed, how can it, seemingly against all odds, grow to be so big and put forth large branches so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade? (Mk 4:32). 

Well, there is a explanation for all of it and it is put well by Saint Therese of Lisieux (1893-1897): Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love. In God's eyes, the mustard seed is not small, it is enormous. In God's eyes, a small gesture of goodness in a smile or a kind word is huge. The impacts are far-reaching. Perhaps others, along with me, get so caught up in the littleness of everything amidst daily difficulties that we forget that with God, all things are possible. "Perhaps", said Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan (1928-2002, imprisoned for 13 years by the Vietnamese government), "I am only a grain of sand, but every grain has its own place, it special role to carry out-the sole condition is my awareness of this reality and my unity with all others." So whatever your special role is, "do all that you do with love."

Do something good for someone you like least, today.

(Saint Anthony of Padua)

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA,

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A water lily flower before it disappears.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

The Most Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Onuphrius (d. 400); Blessed Alphonsus Mazurek and Companions (20th century); Blessed Hilary Januszewski (1907-1945)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office

Mass: Is 61:9-11; Resp Ps (1 Sm 2) or 2 Cor 5:14-21; Resp Ps 103; Lk 2:41-51

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

IMMACULATE MARY, 

PRAY FOR US.

United in faith and prayer, let's join Mary today, dear Mary, Mother of Jesus, "she who heard the word of God and lived by it-she who listened, then pondered in her heart." Cardinal Basil Hume adds this: "It is a feminine trait to listen, to receive, to watch. Perhaps that is why more women pray than men. Perhaps that is why among contemplatives there are more women than men-it is the 'feminine' which listens and waits. It is a feminine trait, also, to see, to observe. The wine has run out. Mary notices, and being a woman she has a practical mind" (Searching for God, p. 160). 

When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth.

(Saint Bonaventure, 1221-1274)

Mary's heart is like a pearl of incomparable splendor, formed and smoothed by patient acceptance of God's will through the mysteries of Jesus meditated in prayer.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, June 12, 2021)

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

SAINT ONUPHRIUS,

BLESSED ALPHONSUS MAZAREK AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED HILARY JANUSZEWSKI,

SAINT JOSEPH, MOST CHASTE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This is from 2016, when I had the privilege of making the Blessed Virgin Mary for our creche. Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Year of Saint Joseph

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

In other years: Saint Barnabas the Apostle

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 8 The Divine Office at Night

Mass: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Resp Ps (Is 12); Eph 3:8-12, 14-19; Jn 19:31-37

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith.

HEART OF JESUS, PIERCED WITH A LANCE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Happy Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Why not pray with the Litany to the Sacred Heart today. What is your favorite invocation? May it be on your lips and in your heart throughout this most glorious day. Heart of Jesus, aflame with love for us, have mercy on us.

Perhaps take some time too with words from Karl Rahner (1904-1984), beautifully read at Vigils this morning. They are from his little book of meditations, Encounters with Silence, first published in 1965. 

Jesus has really told me that He loves me, and His word has come from the depths of His human heart. And His heart is Your heart, O God of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, if this human heart of Your Son is unspeakably richer and greater than my heart, it is so only in that love and that goodness which can never be anything else but love and goodness. It can never conceal within itself the awe-fullness of Your Infinity, which is always all else as well.

Grant, O Infinite God, that I may ever cling fast to Jesus Christ, my Lord. Let His heart reveal to me how You are disposed toward me. I shall look upon His heart when I desire to know who You are. The eye of my mind is blinded whenever it looks only at Your Infinity, in which You are totally present in each and every aspect at once. Then I am surrounded by the darkness of Your unboundedness, which is harsher than all my earthly nights. But instead I shall gaze upon His human heart, O God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and then I shall be sure that You love me.

But I still have one more request. Make my heart like that of Your son. Make it as great and rich in love as His, so that my brothers-or at least one of them, sometime in my life-can enter through this door and there learn that You love him. God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, let me find you in His heart.

And some final words from my patron, Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta (1256-1301/2), oh she who was so close to the heart of Jesus. It is said that Jesus told one of Gertrude's sisters at Helfta, I live in the heart of Gertrude. Jesus lives in your heart too. Share the love Jesus has for you with others today. 

May my soul bless you, Lord God, my creator! ... you have granted me the priceless gift of your familiar friendship, giving me in various ways, to my indescribable delight, the noblest treasure of the divinity, your divine heart, now bestowing it freely, now as a sign of our mutual familiarity, exchanging it with mine. How often you have revealed to me your secret counsels and your pleasures, melting my soul with your loving caresses. 

(Gertrude of Helfta, The Herald of Divine Love, Book II, Ch 23) 

SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE,

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELFTA,

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE,

SAINT CLAUDE LA COLOMBIERE,

SAINT JOSEPH, DILIGENT PROTECTOR OF CHRIST,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta, through the hand of Brother Claude, OSB. She hangs outside the Chapel at Queen of Angels Monastery, home to the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, Oregon. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021