Saint John XXIII

Readings of the day: RB 8

Mass: Jonah 4:1-11; Resp. Psalm 86; Luke 11:1-4

Jesus taught the disciples many things, sometimes using words, other times not. As far as I know the disciples only asked Jesus once to teach them anything at all. Today they ask the Lord to teach them to pray. It seems a reasonable request considering they, with us, don’t know how to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26). Jesus doesn’t waste time, stating clearly,

When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed by your name,

your Kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread

and forgive us our sins

for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,

and do not subject us to the final test.

This prayer we know as the Lord’s Prayer, what Thomas Aquinas calls a most perfect prayer (Summa, II-II, q. 83, art. 9). Aquinas explains in these words: “The Lord’s Prayer is most perfect, because as Augustine says, ‘if we pray rightly and fittingly, we can say nothing else but what is contained in this prayer of Our Lord.’”

LORD, PLEASE TEACH US TO PRAY.

Speaking of prayer, today Saint Benedict begins his eleven chapters devoted to the ins and outs of praying the Divine Office in a monastic community. The Divine Office, also called the Liturgy of the Hours, is the official prayer of the Church. A beautiful and most instructive presentation on the theology of the Liturgy of the Hours can be found in the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, Ch. 1, para. 1-19, found online, or in Volume I, The Liturgy of the Hours According to the Roman Rite, pp. 21-34.

It is important that the celebration of Lauds and Vespers should never be concluded without the recitation by the Abbess of the whole of the Lord’s Prayer 

so that all may hear and attend to it.

(RB 13:12)

SAINT JOHN XXIII, PRAY FOR US.

Tuesday, Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:62-70

Mass: Jonah 3:1-10; Resp. Psalm 130; Luke 10:38-42

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

It seems dear Jonah has had a change of heart, not without God in hot pursuit. Today Jonah heeds the Lord’s bidding and sets off for Nineveh. That said, there is more to come.

We are also presented with Martha and Mary, friends of the Lord. Martha was busy asking Jesus questions and telling him what to do. Mary was busy listening to Jesus speak.

Who am I today? Jonah, Martha, or Mary?

The first step of humility is to cherish at all times the sense of awe with which we should ever turn to God. It should drive all forgetfulness away; it should keep our minds alive to God’s guidance and commandments.

(RB 7:10-11)

Saint Denis and Companions, Saint John Leonardi

Readings of the day: RB 7:60

Mass: Jonah 1:1-2:2,11; Resp. Psalm (Jonah 2); Luke 10:25-37

The story of Jonah reminds me of something Pope Francis tweeted earlier this year:

“GOD is always faithful and never stops for a moment loving us, following our steps, and running after us when we have strayed from him” (Twitter, March 2, 2017).

 You can run, dear Jonah, but you can’t hide. The same applies to us all.

Dear Jesus, grant us the grace and the courage do your will.

SAINT DENIS AND COMPANIONS, SAINT JOHN LEONARDI

PRAY FOR US.

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:59

Mass: Isaiah 5:1-7; Resp. Psalm 80; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Saint Paul offers sound advice, namely, “Do not be anxious at all,” while encouraging us,” Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.”

With his words in mind, herewith Sunday’s musings:

I regularly hear people pray for peace, and for peacemakers. Such prayers cause me to pause and think. A few questions come to mind, none of which I claim to have the answers for. First, what exactly is being prayed for? Second, what is peace? Third, just what qualifies someone to be a peacemaker?

Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, tells us: In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, we are to make our requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew (10:34), though, we hear Jesus tell us that he did come to bring peace upon earth. Instead, he came to bring the sword, pitting one against another. In the Gospel of John (14:27), we hear Jesus say: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Peace abounds in the Word, yet I am still perplexed. This is a way I see it. Why shouldn’t I be troubled, afraid, or anxious? Because Jesus Christ, the Word, became flesh and dwells among us. Peace is all pervasive, for “Christ is our peace” (Eph. 2:14). When I receive the Eucharist, I receive peace. This makes me not just a peacemaker, but a bearer of peace. I bear Christ who himself caused so much division that he was rejected and put to death. Yet Christ overcame death and rose to new life. With Christ, we experience war, division, suffering, and violence. But we are peace bearers and with Christ are raised to new life.

It seems to me, then, that first, we pray for a peace that the world cannot give. Second, I have difficulty articulating just what peace is as Saint Paul says, “the peace of God surpasses all understanding.” Third, we are not peacemakers but peace bearers. I cannot make peace.

What follows is another way to pray for peace:

Please God, grant us the grace to produce peace, a fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is the peace that will guard our hearts and minds in You. May the God of peace be with us all.

I have chosen you from the world says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain.

ALLELUIA.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

Our Lady of the Rosary

First Saturday of the Month

Readings of the day: RB 7:56-58

Mass: Baruch 4:5-12,27-29; Resp. Psalm 69; Luke 10:17-24

It may be a good day to reflect on what Jesus means when he speaks of “the childlike.”

I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

Saint Francisco de Jesus Marto, Saint Jacinta de Jesus Marto

Servant of God Lúcia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos

PRAY FOR US

SAINT BRUNO (c. 1032-1101); BLESSED MARIE ROSE DUROCHER (1811-1849)

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Readings of the day: RB 7:55

Mass: Baruch 1:15-22; Resp. Psalm 79; Luke 10:13-16

I was struck this morning during Vigils with Psalm 79(80) which also serves as today’s Responsorial Psalm. Maybe it was a wake-up call. My first thought was of the tax collector who raised his eyes to heaven, beat his breast and prayed: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Then I went to the Psalm:

Do not hold past iniquities against us;

may your compassion come quickly,

for we have been brought very low.

Help us, God our savior for the glory of your name,

Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name’s sake.

Living and true God, if today I hear YOUR voice, harden not my heart.

Grant me the grace to heed your voice, ask for forgiveness,

and embrace your merciful love and compassion.

Those who keep God’s word with a good and perfect heart patiently bear fruit.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

SAINT BRUNO

BLESSED MARIE ROSE DUROCHER,

PRAY FOR US.

BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS (d. 1897)

Readings of the day: RB 7:51-54

Mass: Nehemiah 8:1-4a,5-6,7b-12; Resp. Psalm 19; Luke 10:1-12

The reading from the Book of Nehemiah is one of my favorites, especially the line, “men, women, and those children old enough to understand.” The line is so good it is repeated. The passage also reminds me of something I heard some years ago from a Trappist monk. In a conference on forming new members into the monastic tradition, the monk shared what he tells all newcomers. It also bears repeating. If you are going to fidget, move around, cough, sneeze, slouch, or otherwise lose attention at Mass or during the celebration of the Divine Office, never do so when the Word is proclaimed. When the Word is proclaimed, one should be still, attentive, and mind their posture so to speak. I think of those assembled when Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses. They listened attentively; they rose when Ezra opened the scroll; they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the Lord. The whole people was so moved they wept. And Ezra, he read plainly so that all could understand what was read. 

Do I exhibit the same reverence when the Word is proclaimed? Are my ears and heart open to receive the Word? What about my posture? When I proclaim the Word am I prepared? Am I audible so the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand can understand?

Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.

BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS, PRAY FOR US.