Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saint Valentine, Patron Saints of Europe, Patron Saint of Lovers; Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop (9th century)

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10: Resp Ps 29; Mk 8:14-21

Praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF HEARTS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, HEARTS UNITED IN THE LORD,

PRAY FOR US.

Do you still not understand?

(Mk 8:21)

Happy Saint Valentine's Day. 💖 

First, in response to Jesus' question above, look to Isaiah 41:17-20 which I had the privilege of proclaiming at Lauds this morning. That all may see and know, observe and understand (Is 41:20). It is snowing right now. Do I need more signs than that? Hmmm. And then there is Noah who just did as the Lord commanded him (Gn 7:5). 

And now a word or two about Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. According to tradition he risked his life to marry couples in a Christian way during the time of the Roman persecution. He was eventually martyred for his witness to the faith. Dear Saint Valentine can certainly intercede for all married couples, and also pray for all couples who do not find it necessary to get married in the Church, or any church for that matter. There are many saints who were married with families so lots of others to intercede too, like Saint Margaret of Scotland (11th century), married for 23 years and the mother of eight children; Saint Louis IX (13th century), married 36 years and the father of 11 children; Saint Thomas More (14th-15th century), married 33 years with 4 children and one stepdaughter; Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, married nine years with five children; and Saints Louis Martin and Zelie Marie-Azelie Guerin (19th century), the first spouses in the Church's history to be canonized as a couple. They had nine children with only five daughters who survived infancy. And they were all nuns including Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, and Servant of God Leonie Martin.* 

We also commemorate the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, born in Thessalonica, Greece, and educated in Constantinople in what is modern-day Turkey. Together they set off for Moravia, in the eastern part of what is now the Czech Republic, to preach the faith. They translated liturgical texts into the Slavonic language and invented the Cyrillic alphabet. Just after one of them, called Constantine at birth, was clothed in the monastic habit and took the name of Cyril, he lived the life of a monk for fifty days. Not long before he died, he prayed to the Lord, his God. And he intercedes for us now, along with his brother. 

Hear my prayer and protect your faithful people, for you have established me as their unsuitable and unworthy servant.

Keep them free from harm and the worldly cunning of those who blaspheme you. Build up your church and gather all into unity. Make your people known for the unity and profession of their faith. Inspire the hearts of your people with your word and your teaching ...

Direct them with your powerful right hand, and protect them under the shadow of your wings. May all praise and glorify your name, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(From an Old Slavonic Life of Constantine, in Office of Readings, February 14)

SAINT VALENTINE, 

SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND, 

SAINT LOUIS IX,

SAINT THOMAS MORE,

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

SAINTS LOUIS MARTIN AND ZELIE MARIE-AZELIE GUERIN,

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX,

SERVANT OF GOD LEONIE MARTIN,

SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

*See Catholic News Agency, "St. Valentine," and CatholicVote "Saints Who Were Married," and Wikipedia too. 

Today's photo: To celebrate Saint Valentine's Day, these colorful and precious glass hearts come courtesy of a friend from the neighborhood where we both were born and raised in Muncie, Indiana (the Hoosier State). We have not seen one another since just before high school (not a few years ago lol 😉), when she moved to Kansas, the Sunflower State, where she still lives. Can you imagine? Recently gifted with an old glass kiln by her brother, she has taken on a new hobby. I am reminded of the wonderful song with words, "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and other gold." Give to the Lord glory and praise.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saint: Blessed Jordan of Saxony OP (c.1185-1237); Saint Catherine de' Ricci OP (1522-1590)

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Gn 4:1-15, 25; Resp Ps 50; Mk 8:11-13 

Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

If you can do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door; his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.

(Gn 4:7)

Welcome to Monday and a week to celebrate several Dominican saints like Blessed Reginald of Orleans, who received the habit from Saint Dominic, and Blessed Jordan of Saxony, who also received the habit from Saint Dominic and succeeded him as Master of the Order of Preachers. Then there is Saint Catherine de' Ricci, who was born in Florence and took the veil at the Dominican convent in Prat, Tuscany. Among other notables, she was eventually elected perpetual prioress, and due to her sanctity and prudence, had many visitors including bishops, princes, and even cardinals who became popes. She also appeared in a vision to a long-time correspondent, Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595), who lived in Rome, hundreds of miles away from where she was physically located. Otherwise skeptical of miraculous events, Philip apparently confirmed this one. Such a miraculous work was included in Catherine's cause for canonization, celebrated by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746.* And lastly, we have Blessed Nicholas of Paglia, a traveling companion of Saint Dominic, and Blessed John of Fiesole, better known as Fra Angelico. I've seen many of Fra Angelico's marvelous works of art in person, at Il Convento di San Marco in Florence where the famous Annunciation is housed, and at an exhibit at Villa Borghese. Fra Angelico is buried at Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, definitely a favorite of mine. Outside the front of that magnificent Church is Bernini's small statue of an elephant. May all these glorious saints intercede for all friars, sisters, and nuns of the Order of Preachers. We pray especially for all those who study and work at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

United in faith and prayer, we go forth to encourage and support one another so that we master whatever sin is lurking at our doors. Lord, have mercy. Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name (Entrance Antiphon, Mass).

BLESSED JORDAN OF SAXONY,

SAINT CATHERINE DE' RICCI,

SAINT DOMINIC.

PRAY FOR US.

*On Saint Catherine de' Ricci, see Catholic News Agency, "St. Catherine de' Ricci."

Today's photo: Here they come. The flowers, that is. ☺ From the rising of the sun to its setting.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

In other years: Blessed 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: Sirach 15:15-20; Resp Ps 119; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37 

The wonders of your law.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, WHOSE DIVINE CHILD IS A MODEL OF FILIAL OBEDIENCE,

PRAY FOR US.

Before man are life and death, good and evil,

whichever he chooses will be given him.

(Sirach 15:17)

Who is the man that fears the Lord?

The Lord will instruct him in the way that he should choose.

(Psalm 25:12)

There seems to be no cause to waver then on what is the path to choose. However, we must listen to what the Lord is telling us. Listen, that is, with the ear of our heart. So doing, we can be firm and let our 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and our 'No' mean 'No.' For anything else is from the evil one (see Mk 17:37).

Jesus is the Finger of God who writes in the interior of our being, who etches living truth on the flesh of our heart with His tender yet powerful touch. If He can do this it is because He Himself, eternal Word possesses a human heart and knows how to reach other hearts. And the simple, absolute, and unsurpassable law He inscribes in our hearts is the law of the love of God.

(E. Leiva-Merikakis, Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Meditations on the Gospel According to St. Matthew)

BLESSED REGINALD OF ORLEANS,

SAINT DOMINIC,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This is a guanaco at spectacular Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Just one of the new animals the Ottos met during their recent Chilean adventure. That I may be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

World Day of the Sick

Our Lady of Lourdes

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Gn 3:9-24; Resp Ps 90; Mk 8:1-10

The earth and the world were brought forth.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, HEALTH OF THE SICK,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

SAINT RAPHAEL,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, WHOSE MOTHER IS A MODEL OF MATERNAL DILIGENCE,

PRAY FOR US.

My heart is moved with pity for the crowd.

(Mk 8:2)

For the times when we are afraid and try to hide ourselves from the Lord Our God, may we reach out to Him who always looks for us, and loves us with an everlasting love. They ate and were satisfied (Mk 8:8).

And the man called his wife "Eve."

"Mother of all that live shall be her name,"

Said the man, when the Lord had judged their sin.

Somehow the curse and blessing are the same;

Bread shall they eat, though sweat cling to the skin;

In pain shall she bring children to the light,

And one shall crush the serpent's skull, to win-

Not the small grove whence they were put to flight-

New heaven and earth for man His foe, and friend.

Praise her then, in whose fruitful womb unite

Dust, and that life of Eden without end.*

OUR LADY OF LOURDES,

SAINT BERNADETTE OF LOURDES,

PRAY FOR US.

* Anthony Esolen, The Hundredfold: Songs for the Lord (Ignatius, 2019). pp. 51-52.

Today's photo: For Our Lady of Lourdes. Not the pale-yellow roses on the top of Her feet when she first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, this rose, courtesy of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, OR, is fitting. Our Lady, mystical rose, likes all flowers, especially roses. That we may gain wisdom of heart.

 © Gertrude Feick 2023

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saint Scholastica, Virgin (480-547); The Shipwreck of Saint Paul

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Gn 3:1-8; Resp Ps 32; Mk 7:31-37

For the Feast of Saint Scholastica: Songs 8:6-7; Resp Ps 148; Lk 10:38-43

Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. 

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 1)

Today we celebrate Saint Scholastica, the twin sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-547). Together, they are known as the "holy twins." What we know about Saint Scholastica is contained in Book Two of the Dialogues of St Gregory the Great, Life and Miracles of St Benedict. In Ch. 33 of the Dialogues, Pope Saint Gregory writes about Scholastica, who was consecrated to God in early childhood and who used to visit with her brother once a year. It was in the meeting detailed by Saint Gregory that Scholastica’s prayer was even mightier than her brother’s. After the siblings had already "spent the whole day singing God’s praises and conversing about the spiritual life", Scholastica asked her brother to stay the night so they could continue their holy conversation. Adamant about returning to his own monastery, Benedict refused. Even though the sky was clear, Scholastica "folded her hands on the table and rested her head upon them in earnest prayer." Just then a torrential downpour began and Benedict was unable to leave. Asking his sister what on earth she had done, Scholastica replied, "When I appealed to you, you would not listen to me. So I turned to my God and He heard my prayer." God answering Scholastica’s prayer is not surprising to St Gregory who remarks, "Do we not read in St. John that God is Love? Surely it is not more than right that [Scholastica’s] influence was greater than [Benedict’s], since hers was the greater love." Because of the love that Scholastica had for her brother, she and Benedict profited greatly from continuing their spiritual discussion all through the night. Ch. 34 continues with three days after their visit when Benedict "stood in his room looking up toward the sky…beheld his sister’s soul leaving her body and entering the heavenly court in the form of a dove." Benedict subsequently had his sister’s body brought to his abbey [Monte Cassino in Italy] and placed in the tomb which had already been prepared for him.

When recalling this story, one saying comes to mind, "Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today." So important when we are talking about building and maintaining our relationships with those we love. It may be that we are unable to be near our loved ones, or at least close enough to visit regularly. We can still call, write a letter, and most importantly, pray for him or her. The same holds for maintaining and strengthening our relationship with Jesus. Today may be a good day to spend a little extra time visiting with Jesus,* no matter how pressing other matters may seem. 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,

PRAY FOR US.

* This reflection was posted February, 10, 2018. A lot happens in five years. We must run and do now what will profit us forever (RB Prologue 44).

Today's photo: You have seen this before, a magnificent work of art painted by Sister Protasia Schindler, OSB (late 19th century, early 20th), a Benedictine Sister of Mt. Angel, Oregon. It hangs in the Queen of Angels Monastery Dining Room. Other works by Sister Protasia adorn the Monastery. Image used with permission of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saint Teilo (6th century); Saint Apollonia, Virgin and Martyr of Alexandria Egypt (3rd century)

Readings of the Day

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

Mass: Gn 2:18-25; Resp Ps 128; Mk 7:24-30

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HOLY FAMILY, WHOSE PROTECTOR IS A MODEL OF PATERNAL CARE,

PRAY FOR US.

Before his downfall a man's heart is haughty,

but humility goes before honors.

(Proverbs 18:12)

Divine Scripture calls to us saying: 

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 7:1)

As we conclude this year's first reading of Saint Benedict's Chapter 7 on Humility, we pray that we will quickly arrive at that perfect love of God which casts out fear and do everything out of love for Christ good habit and delight in virtue (RB 7:69). United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

Truly humble people are centers of peace because they fear neither their own failure nor others' success. Let us pray for the wisdom to judge as God judges: to look to our own and others' achievements from God's perspective.

(Magnificat, February 8, 2023, Prayer for the Evening, Introduction to Psalm 75)

SAINT TEILO,

SAINT APOLLONIA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From my dear cousin in Windsor, CA, who thought of me when she found this sweet daffodil in her yard the other day. That is certainly enough to brighten anyone's day. Flowers, bless the Lord.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin (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: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Resp Ps 104; Mk 7:14-23

At the time when the Lord made the earth and the heavens.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden ... out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food.

(Gn 2:8-9)

On this Wednesday, called "hump day" by those eager for the work week's end, let us pray that the Lord Our God gives us the grace to rid ourselves of the evils from within, those that defile us, those in our hearts, such as evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly (see Mk 7:21-23). And also remember what Saint Benedict teaches us today in the eleventh step of humility: Speak gently and without laughter, seriously with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising your voice, as it is written: "A wise man is known by his few words" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 7:60-61). Otherwise, we may be inclined to sin with our tongues, as we are warned in Scripture, In a flood of words you will not avoid sinning (RB 7:57)

One of our saints of the day, Saint Josephine Bakhita, born in a small village in the Darfur region of Sudan, a valiant woman of faith who endured much suffering at the hands of her captors before being "purchased" by a kind and loving Italian family, somehow maintained a certain awe for the world and its creator. Fitting for us as we hear the word proclaimed in the first story of creation, we hear from Saint Josephine Bakhita, "Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: 'Who could be the Master of these beautiful things?' And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage.'" May we have the same desire to see Him, know Him, and to pay Him homage. Not surprisingly, it was Pope Saint John Paul II who canonized Saint Josephine Bakhita in 2000. She is the first person to be canonized from Sudan and is the patron saint of the country.* United in faith and prayer, we go forth. ☺⚘

SAINT JOSEPHINE BAKHITI,

SAINT JEROME ELIMILIANI,

SAINT CUTHMAN OF STEYNING,

PRAY FOR US.

*See Catholic News Agency, "St. Josephine Bakhita."

Today's photo: It is true that one can't get enough of this. More from Torres del Pain National Park, Patagonia, South America. O bless the Lord, my soul!

© Gertrude Feick 2023