Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saints: Saints Cyril Monk, and Methodius, Bishop (9th century), "Apostles to the Slavs", Co-patrons of Europe

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 12 The Celebration of the Solemnity of Lauds

Mass: James 1:1-11; Resp Ps 119; Mk 8:11-12

Teach me your statutes.

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

Welcome to Monday, our favorite day of the week. It occurred to me yesterday to thank you, faithful readers, for tuning in regularly, or as time permits. With prayer for and appreciation of you, I keep going. Thank you. 

To start things off this week, let's keep things simple. United, we embrace in our hearts and put on our lips words from the Psalmist: Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live (Ps 119:77a). Keep going!

The Holy Brothers of Thessalonica highlight first the contribution of ancient Greek culture and, subsequently, the significance of the influence of the Church of Constantinople and of Eastern tradition, which has so deeply marked the spirituality of so many peoples and nations in the Eastern part of the European continent.

(Pope Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Egregiae Virtutis, 3, December 31, 1980)

SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Fitting for Saint Cyril and Methodius, here we are in Rome, at the Roman Forum. Saint Cyril died in Rome and a fragment of his sacred relics are entombed not far from the Forum, at the Basilica of San Clemente. From the Forum, go to the Colloseum, then up the Via Labicana. Not far, just on the left you will find many treasures behind the 12th facade of San Clemente. San Clemente is looked after by the Irish Dominicans, some of whom I had the privilege of having as professors. For today's photo, we thank dear Italian Anna, who captured the scene on a recent walk in Rome. Abbracci!

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

World Marriage Day

In other years: Blessed Jordan of Saxony OP (c.1185-1237)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

Mass: Jer 17:5-8; Resp Ps 1; 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26

He is like a tree planted near running water.

BLESSED JORDAN OF SAXONY,

PRAY FOR US.

Buona domenica. May you go well wherever you find yourself. Today's contribution is not brief. I can get carried away, as you know. Kyrie eleison. 😊

Came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases.

(Lk 6:18a)

 

Sadly, this important line is left out of today’s Gospel passage. It speaks volumes. After time spent on the mountain in prayer, Jesus chooses the Twelve, and goes down to level ground with them. Disciples, along with a large number of people come from all over. Why did they come? They came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. All these people wanted to get a closer look at Jesus, for word about Him had spread. They may have wanted to hear what He had to say, yes. Perhaps though they were more interested in being healed. After all, it is much easier to listen when your skin doesn’t itch, your leg isn’t paralyzed, or you are no longer afflicted with one malady or another that has plagued you for years, some maladies more visible than others. These people wanted signs and wonders (Lk 11:29-32/Mk 8:11-13). I rather picture a sort of mob scene. Especially since “everyone in the crowd sought to touch Him” (Lk 6:19), another important line left out.

 

However, Jesus has a message for those gathered, and anyone with ears to hear (Mk 4:9). And I tend to think it was not entirely what they had in mind, or what we necessarily have in mind either, for it was contrary to much of what they had heard. Jesus sees our need for love, to be loved and to love. His heart is full of compassion.

 

What does Jesus have to say those of us gathered around Him? Jesus is telling us to rejoice and leap for joy with what may appear to us as afflictions in need of immediate healing. On the contrary, we can, in our hearts, quietly embrace suffering and endure it without weakening or seeking escape, for anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved (Rule of Saint Benedict/RB 7:35-36). The kingdom of God belongs to the poor, the hungry, the hated, the excluded and insulted (Lk 6:20-22); those in need of a physician (Lk 5:31). What might this look like on a more practical level? It is likely that each one of us would come up with something different. At the same time, there are possibilities that all of us would be familiar with. Let’s consider a few:

 

ü  Blessed are you who are poor: Recognize your need for grace saying with the Prophet, Not to us, Lord, not to us the glory, but to your name alone … declare with Saint Paul, By God’s grace I am what I am, and again, she who boasts should boast in the Lord (RB 4:30-32).

ü  Blessed are you who are now hungry: Remember why you came here, and stay: “The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God” (RB 58:7).

ü  Blessed are you who are now weeping: “Go to help the troubled and console the sorrowing” (RB 4:18).

ü  Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil: “Do not repay one bad turn for another … bear injuries patiently. Love your enemies. If people curse you, do not curse them back but bless them instead. Endure persecution for the sake of justice” (RB 4:29-33).

 

Let us not be among those most pitiable people, ones who have fallen asleep, those who only hope for Christ in this life, for Christ has been raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:18-20). We place our hope in God alone (RB 4:41), and never lose hope in God’s mercy (RB 4:74). And perhaps if we embrace whatever ails us in this way, we will be healed. And we will rejoice and leap for joy in ways unexpected and more life-giving than we could have ever imagined. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord (Jer 17:7), whatever he does, prospers (Ps 1).

 

Even those who were tormented with unclean spirits were cured ...

power came forth from Him and healed them all.

(Lk 6:18b-19)

Today's photo: Last week featured photos from around our magnificent country. This week features photos from around the world. Beauty abounds. Today we are in Switzerland, near the home of long-time friends, the Benedictine Sisters of Melchtal. No longer in Melchtal, they have joined forces with the Benedictine Sisters in Sarnen, the capital of the canton of Obwalden, about 13 miles south of Lucerne. Switzerland is one beautiful country. Vielen herzlichen Dank, Schwester Daniela.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

National Marriage Week

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint: Saint Humbeline of Jully (11th-12th century), sister of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux; Saint Reginald of Orleans OP (c.1180-1220)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 10 The Arrangement of the Night Office in Summer

Mass: 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34; Resp Ps 106; Mk 8:1-10

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

JESUS, BREAD OF LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In the Cistercian Order, we commemorate Saint Humbeline of Jully today, the sister of Saint Bernard of the Clairvaux. At the same time, as on so many Saturdays, the universal Church dedicates the day to the Virgin Mary. We are blessed with our faith and so many powerful intercessors. 

Mary was indeed full of grace

in good measure

pressed down

shaken together

and running over

and for this reason:

that through her

the grace of God 

might abound in us.

God chose her

in advance

in a unique way

and accorded her the grace of being endowed

with a triple grace:

the grace of beauty

the grace of favor

and the grace of honor

so that she should be made

beautiful

gracious

and glorious.

(Baldwin of Forde, 1125-1190, in Mary Most Holy: Meditating with the Early Cistercians, pp. 70-71)

MARY, MOST HOLY,

SAINT HUMBELINE OF JULLY,

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

SAINT REGINALD OF ORLEANS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Join us in the Sunshine State, here in Punta Gorda. A couple bros here with friends. Make new friends, but the keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. These are gold, faithful ones from our hometown of Muncie in the Hoosier State.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

National Marriage Week

World Day of the Sick

Saints: Our Lady of Lourdes; Saint Gobnait (5th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office

Mass: 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19; Resp Ps 81; Mk 7:31-37

I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

MARY, HEALTH OF THE SICK,

PRAY FOR US.

It's a busy day. Every day is a busy day, thanks be to God, for there are many things and people to pray for. That will keep anyone busy, whether or not they are engaged in the usual "busyness". A perfect way to begin every day, with whatever it holds, is to begin each one with the verse: Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise, as Saint Benedict prescribes for the beginning of Vigils (Rule of Saint Benedict, 9:1). And it's not a bad idea to honor and reverence the Holy Trinity afterwards: "Glory be to the Father ..." (RB 9:7). And when things get rocky at various times throughout the day, here is a powerful verse: God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me (RB 18:1).

We remain in the Year of the Family, celebrate National Marriage Week, and today is World Day of the Sick. So important are the sick in our midst, Saint Benedict devotes an entire Chapter to them, their care, and to the sick themselves, Chapter 36. It's ten verses and worth a look. I include it for you today so that you might apply it wherever you find yourself. If you can't go out, or don't have time for a personal visit to someone who is ill, then a phone call and/or writing a short note will do, and a prayer is always fitting. 😊

Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, for He said: I was sick and you visited me, and, What you did for one of these least brothers you did for me. Let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who serve them. Still, sick brothers must be patiently borne with, because serving them leads to a greater reward. Consequently, the abbot should be extremely careful that they suffer no neglect.

Let a separate room be designated for the sick, and let them be served by an attendant who is God-fearing, attentive and concerned. The sick may take baths whenever it is advisable, but the healthy, and especially the young, should receive permission less readily. Moreover, to regain their strength, the sick who are very weak may eat meat, but when their health improves, they should all abstain from meat as usual.

The abbot must take the greatest care that cellarers and those who serve the sick do not neglect them, for the shortcomings of disciples are his responsibility.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES,

SAINT GOBNAIT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Welcome back to the Hoosier State, another one from Tom and Benedict on a walk at Holliday Park in Indianapolis.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

National Marriage Week

Saints: Saint Scholastica, twin sister of Saint Benedict (b. 480); The Shipwreck of Saint Paul celebrated as the birth of the Maltese Church

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 8 The Divine Office at Night

Mass for Feast of St Scholastica: Songs 8:6-7; Resp Ps 148; Lk 10:38-42

Ferial Mass: 1 Kgs 11:4-13; Resp Ps 106; Mk 7:24-30

Young men and women too, old and young alike. 

Let them all praise the Lord's name.

THE LOVE OF CHRIST MUST COME BEFORE ALL ELSE.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:21)

Happy Feast of Saint Scholastica, "the learned woman", twin sister of Saint Benedict, "the blessed man." We pray especially for all Benedictines throughout the world, and in our country for members of the Federation of Saint Scholastica, for their spiritual and temporal welfare.

What we know about Saint Scholastica can be found in Book II of Saint Gregory the Great's (540-604) Dialogues, more specifically in Chapters 33 and 34. You can find the story in today's second reading from the Office of Readings, as well as on the Benedictine website www.osb.org. In short (kind of), the holy twins Scholastica and Benedict were engaged in their annual spiritual conversation, when "they spent the whole day praising God and talking of sacred things." After supper, Benedict announced that it was time for him to return to the monastery. Scholastica though, wanted her brother to stay, saying, "Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual life." When her brother refused her request, Scholastica "joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray." Just then lightning and thunder commenced and was joined by a torrential downpour. Since Benedict and the brethren accompanying him could not go back to their monastery, Benedict complained, "May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?" "Well," the learned woman answered, "I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and He did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery." Saint Gregory the Great goes on to comment on this exchange: "It is not surprising the she was more effective than he; since, as John says, God is love, it was absolutely right that she could do more, as she loved more."

Saint Gregory relates that three days later, when Benedict was in his cell, he saw his sister's soul leave her body in the form of a dove and fly to heaven. They were buried together in the end, and Saint Gregory would not know, at least in his earthly life, that the remains of the holy twins can now be found at the high altar of the reconstructed cathedral of Monte Cassino, the great Abbey in Italy. I have had the privilege of going there on several occasions.

Let us be about God is love and loving more this day. It is easy to say God is love but putting it into practice is easier said than done. Sadly, we all too often end up resounding like a gong or clashing like a cymbal. One could of course turn to Saint Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13, and learn about what love is, and what love is not. Saint Paul is clear: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated ... (1 Cor 13:1-13). However, we can always turn to the ever relevant and trusty Rule of Saint Benedict. If you are pressed for time, go directly to Chapter 4: The Tools for Good Works. There are several God is love tools for daily use. "First of all, love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul and all your strength, and love our neighbor as yourself ... honor everyone, help the troubled and console the sorrowing, guard your lips from harmful or deceptive speech, speak no foolish chatter, pray for your enemies out love for Christ, if you have a dispute with someone, make peace with her before the sun goes down ... (RB 4:1, 8, 18-19, 51, 53, 72-73).

Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may He bring us all together to everlasting life.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 72:11-12)

SAINT SCHOLASTICA,

SAINT BENEDICT,

SAINT PAUL,

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: Still in the Beaver State, this painting comes courtesy of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, OR. This painting of the holy twins was painted by Sister Protasia Schindler (1870-1959) and adorns the monastery refectory. Sister Protasia is not only honored for this and other fine works of art, but she is also honored for planting the Giant Sequioa that stands in front of the monastery. The story is that Sister Protasia found a seedling tree in front of the railroad tracks in 1893. She planted it in front of the monastery to give some life to the monastery grounds. Now recognized as a Mt. Angel landmark, the Giant Sequioa stands over 129 feet tall and was dedicated as an Oregon Heritage Tree on June 1, 2004. I was there for the dedication. It was a privilege. Praise the Lord from the heavens; give praise in the heights. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

National Marriage Week

Saint: Saint Teilo, Monk and Bishop (6th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:62-70

Mass: 1 Kgs 10:1-10; Resp Ps 37; Mk 7:14-23

He will make justice dawn for you like the light.

JESUS, ETERNAL WISDOM,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's reading from the First Book of Kings, we hear the account of the Queen Sheba and her encounter with King Solomon. It was then that the Queen of Sheba witnessed the king's great wisdom (1 Kgs 10:4). So impressed was she that she gave the king "one hundred and twenty gold talents, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon" (1 Kgs 10:10). United in faith and prayer, let us pray for the gift of wisdom, for as Procopius of Gaza (465-528), bishop, tells us in a commentary on the Book of Proverbs, included in today's Office of Readings, "to man who was made in the image of Christ when the rest of creation was created, Wisdom gave the seven gifts of the Spirit to enable him to believe in Christ and to keep His commandments." Wisdom has built herself a house (Proverbs 9:1).

The wise man will reap rewards if he behaves correctly.

(T’ung Jen)

SAINT TEILO,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: d with a contribution from her morning walk. West Linn, Oregon, the Beaver State. God bless America. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

National Marriage Week

International Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking: The Power of Care - Women, Economics, and Human Trafficking

Saints: Saint Josephine Bakhita, Patron Saint of Modern Sudan and All Victims of Human Trafficking (1869-1947); Saint Jerome Emiliani (1486-1537); Saint Cuthman of Steyning (?7th-8th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:60-61 Humility

Mass: 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30; Resp Ps 84; Mk 7:1-13

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

LOOK KINDLY ON THE PRAYER AND PETITION OF YOUR SERVANT,

O LORD, MY GOD, AND LISTEN TO THE CRY OF SUPPLICATION WHICH I, YOUR SERVANT, UTTER BEFORE YOU THIS DAY.

(1 Kgs 8:28)

Not much needs to be said on this day of prayer, reflection and action against human trafficking. On this day we are invited by Pope Francis "to consider the condition of women and girls, subjected to multiple forms of exploitation, including forced marriages, and domestic slavery." Human trafficking is a scourge that the Holy Father calls an "open wound in the body of Christ, in the body of all humanity ..." It is happening everywhere, whether or not we see it with our own eyes, or not. As Pope Francis emphasizes, "this is happening in our cities today ... really think about it." I am reminded, rather sadly, of occasional early morning trips to Fiumicino International Airport in Rome, when I would see amidst the dark and shadows, women, most of whom were likely girls, waiting on the side of the road for business. The picture is clear in my mind. I always wondered who was watching and waiting for them in the shadows. Kyrie eleison.

SAINT JOSEPHINE BAKHITA,

SAINT JEROME EMILIANI,

SAINT CUTHMAN OF STEYNING,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From my oldest sis, here in Pompano Beach, Florida, the Sunshine State. God bless America. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022