Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

First Saturday of the Month

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Pope Saint Sixtus II and his companions, Martyrs (-258); Saint Cajetan (1480-1547)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 55:1-14 The Clothing and Footwear of the Brothers

Mass: Dt 6:4-13; Resp Ps 18; Mt 17:14-20

Extolled be God my savior!

MARY, VIRGIN MOST FAITHFUL,

PRAY FOR US.

It's the First Saturday of the Month so let's keep it simple with Jesus' unambiguous words: Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Mt 17:20). May we not be people of little faith. By the grace of God we go. 

Let all our people fix their minds on death but rather immortality; let them commit themselves to the Lord in complete faith and unflinching courage and make their confession with joy rather than in fear, knowing that in this contest the soldiers of God and Christ are not slain but rather win their crowns.

(From a letter by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, August 7)

If you want Christ to love you and help you, you must love Him and always make an effort to please Him. Do not waver in your purpose, because even if all the saints and every single creature should abandon you, He will always be near you, whatever your needs.

(From a letter by Saint Cajetan, priest, in Office of Readings, August 7)

POPE SAINT SIXTUS II AND HIS COMPANIONS,

SAINT CAJETAN,

SAINT JOSPEH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Yellow rose on the hill.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

The Transfiguration of the Lord

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

First Friday of the Month

43rd Anniversary of the Death of Saint Giovanni Baptiste Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, Pope Saint Paul VI

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 54 Letters or Gifts for Monks

Mass: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; Resp Ps 97; 2 Pet 1:16-19; Mk 9:2-10

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

HEART OF JESUS, OF INFINITE MAJESTY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

As is my custom every year on this glorious feast, I pulled out three postcards from my 2000 pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was during the Jubilee Year and shortly before I entered the monastery. The cards are from Mount Tabor. One is of the Mount, the Mount of the Transfiguration; another from inside the Basilica of the Transfiguration, a picture of the Transfiguration Mosaic by R. Villani; and my favorite is of the stained glass window of the crypt in the Basilica, with peacocks, symbols of immortality. I remember the day of the visit, a beautiful day when I, with a few others, walked up the mountain. At the same time, others were driven up the mountain in cars, cars that were not moving slowly. One thing I remember it that people were hang gliding off the side of the mountain and I wanted to join in. Yes, it was good to be there. And there is another thing I remember. It was so good to be in the Holy Land that I considered staying there to work on a kibbutz. A wise monk in the group suggested that I reconsider. Can you imagine? 😊 Kyrie eleison.

It's the First Friday of the Month and a good day to listen to the voice coming from the cloud: This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him (Mk 9:7). And as Saint Peter writes, "You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Pet 1:19).

Since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into His divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here-here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up His abode together with the Father, saying as He enters; Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of His eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in Him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the firstfruits and the whole of the world to come.

(From a sermon on the transfiguration of the Lord by Anastasius of Sinai, bishop, in Office of Readings, August 6)

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From the Otto's hike at Wiamea Canyon, Kauai. It was certainly good to be there too. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Feast of Our Lady of the Snow

Saints: Blessed Frederic Janssone (1838-1916)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 53:16-24 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Nb 20:1-13; Resp Ps 95; Mt 16;13-23

Oh, that today you would hear His voice.

OU LADY OF THE SNOW,

PRAY FOR US.

As we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), the oldest church in the West dedicated to Our Lady, and located on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, a prayer can be taken from Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Here is part of homily he delivered at the Council of Ephesus in 431. 

Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held Him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord ...

Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fills us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the holy temple of God, and of God Himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(From a homily delivered at the Council of Ephesus by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, in Office of Readings, August 5)

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD,

MARIA, SALUS POPULI ROMANI, 

BLESSED FREDERIC JANSSONE,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More beauty on Kauai.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint John Mary Vianney, Cure of Ars (1786-1859)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 53:1-15 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Nb 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35; Resp Ps 106; Mt 15:21-28

Remember us, Lord, as you favor your people.

MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS,

MARY, QUEEN OF CONFESSORS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today we commemorate another great saint, Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of parish priests, he most humble, loving, and caring, a "noted preacher, and celebrated confessor: such was his fame, and his reputation for insight into his penitents' souls and their futures." It is said that he spent up to 18 hours a day in the confessional, "so great was his demand." Saint John Mary Vianney must have never turned anyone away. He would be pleased with Saint Benedict's chapter on the Reception of Guests, which begins today with this: "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith and to pilgrims" (RB 53:1-2). 

This is the glorious duty of man: to pray and to love. If you pray and love, that is where a man's happiness is.

(From the catechetical instructions by Saint John Mary Vianney, priest, in Office of Readings, August 4)

All of the following quotations attributed to Saint John Mary Vianney come from my trusty Quotable Saints. As stated on pp. 179-180, Saint John Mary Vianney is "so often quoted in this book." And I have not included all of the quotations!

The saints were so completely dead to themselves that they cared very little whether others agreed with them or not.

The saints had no hatred, no bitterness. They forgave everything.

Those who are led by the Holy Spirit have true ideas: that is why so many ignorant people are wiser than the learned. The Holy Spirit is light and strength.

Love of our neighbor consists of three things: to desire the greater good of everyone; to do what good we can when we can; to bear, excuse, and hide other's faults.

You must accept your cross; if you carry it courageously it will carry you to heaven. 

God commands you to pray, but he forbids you to worry.

If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favor of the absent, or withdraw, or, if possible, stop the conversation.

We must never lose sight of the fact that we are either saints or outcasts, that we must live for heaven or for hell: there is no middle path in this.

You either belong wholly to the world or wholly to God.

If people would do for God what they do for the world, what a great number of Christians would go to heaven.

SAINT JOHN MARY VIANNEY,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From Catherine on the island of Kauai. Wow!

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Germanus Auxerre (c.378-448); Saint Oswald (c.604-642); Saint Ethelwold (-984)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 52 The Oratory of the Monastery

Mass: Nb 12:1-13; Resp Ps 51; Mt 14:22-36

A clean heart create for me, O God.

JESUS, OUR REFUGE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

It is likely that there are times when we find ourselves with Saint Peter in today's Gospel. Our faith weakens. We doubt. It is at these times, in the midst of difficult or overwhelming circumstances, that we too can cry out: "Lord, save me!" (Mt 14:30). Jesus speaks: Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid (Mt 14:27).

I will not mistrust [God], though I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear ... I trust He shall place His holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.

(Saint Thomas More, 1478-1535)

When did it ever happen that a man had confidence in God and was lost?

(Saint Alphonsus Liguori, 1698-1787)

Go ahead! Courage! In the spiritual life he who does not go forward goes backward. It is the same with a boat which must always go forward. It it stands still, the wind will blow it back.

(Saint Padre Pio, 1887-1968)

SAINT GERMANUS AUXERRE,

SAINT OSWALD,

SAINT ETHELWOLD,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A redwood lily at Redwoods.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

Saints: Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop (283-371); Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868); Saint Peter Faber (1506-1546)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 51 Brothers on a Short Journey

Mass: Nb 11:4b-15; Resp Ps 81; Mt 14:13-21

Sing with joy to God our help.

JESUS, THE MIGHTY GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Welcome to Monday. There is a slight mist in the air that comes as a welcome and unexpected relief. It is a good day to praise God through word and deed with a few words from Cistercian monk and abbot John of Forde (1140-1244) to keep in mind: "O how lovingly we can expect everything from God when we expect nothing from ourselves! There is nothing I cannot do in Him, knowing as I do there is nothing I can do without Him."

I greatly desire to become a saint, that I may be able to make [others] saints and thus procure the glory of God.

(Saint Peter Julian Eymard)

The universal vocation of creation and human beings is to praise God ... We are representatives of the creation (which cannot speak) in praising God.

(Francis Mahieu, ocso, 1912-2002)

SAINT EUSEBIUS OF VERCELLI, 

SAINT PETER JULIAN EYMARD,

SAINT PETER FABER

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: All you birds of the air, and that includes you little corn bunting, bless the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

National Back to School Month

In other years: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, Patron of Confessors and Moralists (1696-1787)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 50 Brothers Working at a Distance or Traveling

Mass: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Resp Ps 78; Eph 4:17, 20-24; Jn 6:24-35

He commanded the skies above and opened the gates of heaven.

JESUS, LIGHT OF CONFESSORS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus says: I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst (Jn 6:35). It is Jesus, Our Lord, who we turn to for all life, for everything we need to fulfill our hunger and thirst. If we look elsewhere, we find ourselves joining chorus with the Israelites who grumbled against Moses and Aaron (Ex 16:2). During this month of August, we might strive to "put away the old self of our former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in spirit and put on the new self"  (Eph 4:22-24). We pray that our faith may be deepened so that we trust more fully in Jesus, who is our help and our shield. Or simply remember some words from Saint Alphonsus Liguori: He who trusts in Himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.

The following quotations are attributed to Saint Alphonsus Liguori:

Christ loves a soul that is in a state of grace with an immense love; He ardently desires to unite Himself with it. This is what Holy Communion does.

We should submit our reason to the truths of faith with the humility and simplicity of a child.

He who does not give up prayer cannot possibly continue to offend God habitually. Either he will give up prayer, or he will stop sinning.

If you embrace all things in life as coming from the hands of God, and even embrace death to fulfill His holy will, assuredly you will die a saint.

We must mortify our tongue, by abstaining from words of detraction, abuse, and obscenity. An impure word spoken in jest may prove a scandal to others, and sometimes a word of double meaning, said in a witty way, does more harm than a word openly impure.

SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Welcome to North Carolina. Thanks, Jean.

© Gertrude Feick 2021