Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saints: Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux, Cistercian monk, Older brother of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1138); Saint Davnet (7th century); Saint Lidwina (1380-1433); Saint Elisha (1-2 Kings, Prophet); Blessed Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949)

Someone to remember: G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), “Read him, and pray for him.”

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: 1 Kgs 21:17-29; Resp Ps 51; Mt 5:43-48

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

(Mt 5:44)

Jesus' words above, and Father Gabriele's prayer below should keep us busy enough as we commemorate Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux. After all, we want to be children of our heavenly Father, for He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Mt 5:45). Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.

I want to forgive all those who have offended me. Look to those inner sores that make me unable to forgive. You who came to forgive the afflicted of heart, please, heal my own heart.

(Father Gabriele Amorth, d. 2016, who was the Chief Exorcist of Rome, Italy)

BLESSED GERARD OF CLAIRVAUX,

SAINT DAVNET,

SAINT LIDWINA,

SAINT ELISHA,

BLESSED MARIA CANDIDA FO THE EUCHARIST.

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our pomegranate tree on the move. Be merciful, O Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saint: Saint Anthony of Padua, "Hammer of the Heretics", Patron Saint of the Lost and Found (1195?-1231)

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: 1 Kgs 21:1-16; Resp Ps 5; Mt 5:38-42 

Hearken to my words, O Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

(Mt 5:41-42)

Welcome to Monday. 😊 Jesus' words above and Saint Anthony of Padua's below should keep us busy enough. United in faith and prayer, we keep going. And if you can't seem to find something, ask Saint Anthony of Padua to help. He comes through. 

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.

(From a sermon by Saint Anthony of Padua, priest, in Office of Readings, June 13)

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: My king and my God!

© Gertrude Feick 2022

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

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

World Day Against Child Labor

In other years: Saint Onuphrius (d.400); Blessed Alphonsus Mazurek and Companions (19th-20th century); Blessed Hilary Januszewski (1907-1945); 

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Pr 8:22-31; Resp Ps 8; Rom 5:1-5; Jn 16:12-15 

O Lord, Our God, how wonderful Your name in all the earth!

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the glory of God.

(Rm 5:1-2)

So fitting that we are presented with Saint Benedict's Chapter 9 on this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is there that we read our holy father Benedict's instructions: "As soon as the cantor begins to sing 'Glory be to the Father,' let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 9:7). Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. 

You, who are three in one substance, the one God,

from whom we are,

by whom we are,

in whom we are,

You, from whom we departed by sinning,

to whom we were made unlike,

but away from whom we have not been allowed to perish,

You, the beginning, to whom we are returning,

the pattern we are following,

the grace by which we are reconciled,

You, we worship and bless!

To You, be glory for ever! Amen.

(William of St. Thierry, 1085-1148, On Contemplating God)

SAINT ONUPHRIUS,

BLESSED ALPHONSUS MAZUREK AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED HILARY JANUSZEWSKI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: On the prowl for something trinitarian in nature, I wasn't able to find exactly what I was looking for. These wild irises reveal much beauty in their trinitarian characteristics. When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saint: Saint Barnabas the Apostle and Martyr

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3; Resp Ps 98; Mt 10:7-13 or Mt 5:33-37

He has done wondrous deeds.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, 

have mercy on us.

Welcome to Saturday, this one the day before we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. As we prepare then, may our "Yes" mean "Yes" and our "No" mean "No." Anything more is from the Evil One (Mt 5:37). The Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 10:7). United in faith and prayer, Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron can inspire us.

I want to occupy myself with only one thing: loving God; with that alone.

(Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron in G.M. Fernandez, God Alone, p. 57)

SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE AND MARTYR,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More beauty clothed in martyr red to commemorate Saint Barnabas the Apostle and Martyr. When I typed Saint Barnabas the Apostle and Martyr yesterday, it occurred to me that Apostle implies martyrdom. Pick up your cross and follow me, says the Lord. His right hand has won victory for Him, His holy arm. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saint: Blessed Edward Poppe (d. 1924)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:62-70 Humility

Mass: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16; Resp Ps 27; Mt 5:27-32

Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE, 

PRAY FOR US.

Shine like lights in the world, as you hold onto the word of life. 

Alleluia. Alleluia.

(Gospel acclamation, Mass)

There are a couple of things I read within the last 24 hours that brought a smile to my face. The first is a remark about silence, from Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron. It may help us as we conclude Saint Benedict's chapter 7 on humility and continue to ascend the steps of humility. On silence, then, Rafael said, "Brother, do not make noise, I am speaking with God" (God Alone: A Spiritual Biography of Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron, p. 42). Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.

The second comes from the second reading in today's Office of Readings. It appears this week, in these days when the psalms have been coming through loud and clear. As often is the case, the one prayed fits the mood or emotional state. It started early this week when we began with Psalm 39, the psalmist singing too about silence and humility: "I said, 'I will watch my ways, lest I sin with my tongue, I will set a curb on my mouth ..." (Ps 39:2). It is true what Saint Augustine says about the psalms.

Though all Scripture is fragrant with God's grace. the Book of Psalms has a special attractiveness ...

In the Book of Psalms there is profit for all, with healing power for our salvation ... All who read it may find the cure for their own individual failings. All with eyes to see can discover in it a complete gymnasium for the soul, a stadium for all virtues, equipped for every kind of exercise; it is for each to choose the kind he judges best to help him gain the prize.

(From the explanations of the Psalms by Saint Ambrose, bishop, in Office of Readings, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Friday)

Look then to the Book of Psalms, for, "in one short reading you can amass a treasure for the memory ... you will find the glory of charity more than a match for the parade of power" (Saint Augustine). So as we did this morning, we sing with one of my favorite psalms: Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name give the glory because of your faithfulness and love ... Those who fear the Lord trust in the Lord, who is their help and their shield (Ps 115:1,11). 

Now, therefore, after ascending all these steps of humility, the monk will quickly arrive at that perfect love of God which casts out fear. Through this love, all that he once performed with dread, he will now begin to observe without effort, as though naturally, from habit, no longer out of fear of hell, but out of love for Christ, good habit and delight in virtue, All this the Lord will by the Holy Spirit graciously manifest in his workman now cleansed of vices and sins.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 7:67-70)

BLESSED EDWARD POPPE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Some beauty comes in pairs. Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call. Dear faithful reader, Mr. JA. Why not consider sending along a photo of one of your favorite flowers seen while walking ... United in faith and prayer, thank you for being there. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saints: Saint Ephrem the Deacon, Doctor of the Church (306-373); Saint Columba (521?-597); Saint Jose de Anchieta (1534-1597)

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: 1 Kgs 18:41-46; Resp Ps 65; Mt 5:20-26

You have crowned the year with your bounty.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

A wise man is known by his few words.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 7:61)

In brief, united in faith and prayer, we turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray, Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.

Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom so that we may be enlightened and serve you with renewed purity.

(From a sermon by Saint Ephrem, deacon, in Office of Readings, June 9)

SAINT EPHREM THE DEACON,

SAINT COLOMBA,

SAINT JOSE DE ANCHIETA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Softening it with showers.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Saints: Saint James Berthieu (1838-1896); Saint William of York (-1154)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:59 Humility

Mass: 1 Kgs 18:20-38; Resp Ps 16; Mt 5:17-19

Fullness of joys in your presence.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

The Lord is God! The Lord is God!

(1 Kgs 18:39)

Christ the Teacher is busy teaching us these days in His Sermon on the Mount, through the lens of Chapter 5 of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. We pray then, that we can obey and teach His commandments so as to be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:19). And the greatest of these commandments is love. Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us. 

May your healing work, O Lord

free us, we pray, from doing evil

and lead us to what is right.

Through Christ our Lord.

(Prayer after Communion, Mass)

SAINT JAMES BERTHIEU,

SAINT WILLIAM OF YORK,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The delights at your right hand forever.

© Gertrude Feick 2022