Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:62-70

Mass: 2 Cor 3:15-4:1, 3-6; Resp Ps 85; Mt 5:20-26

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

JESUS, OUR WAY AND OUR LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Jesus is pretty clear in today's Gospel. Our Lord said to His disciples, He says to us: Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement ... (Mt 5:22). Does someone have something against you? Then reconcile. Make haste and settle with your opponent (Mt 5:23-25). Or, as our holy father Saint Benedict tells us: "Pray for your enemies out of love for Christ. If you have a dispute with someone, make peace with him before the sun goes down" (RB 4:72-73), especially important if you want to have a good night's sleep. A couple other heavy hitter saints have this to say:

No one heals himself by wounding another.

(Saint Ambrose, 340-397)

Pardon one another so that later on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an injury is in itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sin and hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to flight.

(Saint Francis de Paola, 1416-1507)

SAINT JOSEPH, MOST FAITHFUL,

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: Let light shine out of darkness.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

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

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:60-61

Mass: 2 Cor 3:4-11; Resp Ps 99; Mt 5:17-19

Holy is the Lord, our God.

JESUS, ETERNAL WISDOM,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that whoever obeys and teaches His commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:19). Everyday Jesus tells us to love one another as He loves us. By this, says Our Lord, all will know that we are His disciples, if we have love for one another (Jn 13:34-35). And it doesn't necessarily take a lot of words to obey the Lord's commandments, teach them to others, and to love one another. So we turn to Saint Benedict, now on the eleventh step of humility: "The eleventh step of humility is that a monk speaks gently and without laughter, seriously and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising his voice, as it is written: 'A wise man is known by his few words'" (RB 7:60-61).

Lord, shed your light 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 EPHRAEM,

SAINT COLUMBA,

SAINT JOSE DE ANCHIETA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: 'Til next time ...

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

RB: Ch 7:59

Mass: 2 Cor 1:18-22; Resp Ps 119; Mt 5:13-16

Steady my footsteps according to your promise.

JESUS, BRIGHTNESS OF ETERNAL LIGHT,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

In whatever you are about today, let "your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" (Mt 5:16). And as Saint Benedict reminds us, we do all things so that God may be glorified (RB 57:9/1 Pt 4:11).

Remember that Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams.

I intend that every moment of time past, present and future be employed by me and all creatures in the best way.

In heaven we shall rest.

(Saint Vincent Pallotti, 1795-1850)

Hell is full of the talented, but Heaven of the energetic.

(Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, 1572-1641)

SAINT JAMES BERTHIEU,

SAINT WILLIAM OF YORK,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Whoa. Things are a little shaky at first.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Colman of Dromore (late 5th, early 6th centuries); Saint Robert of Newminster (c.100-1159); Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew (1549-1626)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:56-58

Mass: 2 Cor 1:1-7; Resp Ps 34; Mt 5:1-12

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.

JESUS, MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

There is plenty of wisdom in the ninth step of humility: "The ninth step of humility is that a monk controls his tongue and remains silent, not speaking unless asked a question, for Scripture warns, In a flood of words you will not avoid sinning (Prov 10:19), and A talkative man goes about aimlessly on earth (Ps 139 [140]:12) (RB 7:56-58). Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven (Mt 5:12).

Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world.

(From a letter to the Romans by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr, in Office of Readings, Monday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time)

SAINT COLMAN OF DROMORE,

SAINT ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER,

BLESSED ANNE OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The first of three looks at the newest addition to the neighborhood. Welcome to Redwoods little one.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Year of Saint Joseph

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

In other years: Saint Norbert (1080-1134); Saint Marcellin Champagnat (1789-1840); Saint Jarlath (-540/550)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:55

Mass: Ex 24:3-8; Resp Ps 116; Heb 9:11-15; Sequence Laud, O Zion; Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

Laud, O Zion, your salvation.

HEART OF JESUS, TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

There are so many things to consider about today's solemnity that, sadly, I don't know what to write! Memories go to at least two years, one when I had the privilege of being in Orvieto, Italy, on this great feast. Orvieto with it's magnificent cathedral and great Eucharistic procession with participants dressed in period costume. And there was one year in Rome, when I remember preparation for the Eucharistic procession through the neighborhood with the local parish. I see still one of the sisters where I lived sweeping the sidewalk and carefully clearing the area surrounding the convent for the procession. I also remember the name of a textbook I had in early theological studies entitled Between Memory and Hope by Maxwell E. Johnson. I thought of it especially last night when I listened to the reading proclaimed at Vigils. It was an excerpt from a reflection or homily given in 2014 by Bishop Robert F. Morneau, quoted in the publication Give Us This Day (June 2014). Perhaps I also got some comfort in knowing that I am not alone in putting into words the meaning of this great feast.

Thousands of books have been written on the theology of the Eucharist. Theologians have struggled for centuries to put into words the overwhelming mystery of God's self-giving in the sacrament of Jesus' body and blood. That struggle continues ...

One of the great doctors of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, maintained that the Eucharist has three major components: memory of the past, a present grace, and hope of eternal life. We experience all of these; we remember what Jesus did at the Last Supper in giving his body and blood and then dying on the cross; we celebrate at the altar God's love and life (grace) that nourish us to go forth in compassion and service; and we look forward to the day when, with the communion of saints, we will participate in the heavenly banquet.

On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ we cry out our "Amen!" So be it! In affirming our faith in the Eucharist we are also committing ourselves to serving the poor, showing compassion to the suffering, forgiving those who have injured us, and expressing our gratitude for all God's gifts.

After all, as we know from the Lumen Gentium Light of the Nations, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life (LG 11). Amen.

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, 

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. 

SAINT NORBERT,

SAINT MARCELLIN CHAMPAGNAT,

SAINT JARLATH,

SAINT JOSEPH, 

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Yesterday, early evening. Laud with hymns of exaltation, Christ, your king and true shepherd.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

First Saturday of the Month

Saints: Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr, Apostle of Germany (675?-754)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:51-54

Mass: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20; Resp Ps (Tb13); Mk 12:38-44

Celebrate days of gladness, and give God praise.

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

Today with encouraging words from our saint of the day, Saint Boniface, the Apostle of Germany. Saint Boniface, like the widow in today's Gospel, certainly contributed all he had, his whole livelihood. May he intercede for the Church in Germany.

In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course ...

Let us stand in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God's strengthening aid and say to Him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.

Let us trust in Him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ, For He is all-powerful and He tells us: My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

(From a letter by Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr, Office of Readings, June 5)

SAINT BONIFACE, THE APOSTLE OF GERMANY,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The last of Catherine's Memorial Day hike photos, here Indian Plum, a new one for me. They are the first thing to have flowers in the spring so have fruit already. They start out a lovely orange color and change to purple. They are loved by birds. And beautiful too!

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

First Friday of the Month

Saints: Saint Clotilde (475-545)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:49-50

Mass: Tobit 11:5-17; Resp Ps 146; Mk 12:35-37

Praise the Lord, my soul!

SAINT JOSEPH, PILLAR OF FAMILY LIFE,

PRAY FOR US.

In light of our continuing journey through the Book of Tobit, today with Tobiah bringing his new wife Sarah home to meet the family so to speak, and our saint of the day Saint Clotilde, a married woman with children, and our immersion in the Year of the Family, it is time to include the Pope's June prayer intention. The full text of the intention may be found in several sources, here the report from Vatican News.

Is it true what some people say-that young people don't want to get married, especially during these difficult times? Getting married and sharing one's life is something beautiful.

It's a demanding journey, at times difficult, and at times complicated, but it's worth making the effort. And on this life-long journey, the husband and wife aren't alone; Jesus accompanies them. 

Marriage isn't a "social" act; it's a vocation that's born from the heart; it's a conscious decision for the rest of one's life that requires specific preparation. Please, never forget this. God has a dream for us-love-and He asks us to make it our own. Let us make our own love which is God's dream for us.

And let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience. Because a great deal of patience is necessary in order to love. But it's worth it, eh?

I am thinking today of at least one young person who says he doesn't want to get married. And I remember two young couples, both expecting their first child. At the same time I remember the parents of a long-time friend who will celebrate 64 years of marriage this year, and then dear friends who were married for 65 years, the wife is burying her husband tomorrow. Something to keep in mind is this, we are all united in faith and prayer. We pray for each other and support each other in our respective God given vocations. May we all grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.

May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. 

SAINT CLOTILDE,

SAINT JOSEPH, HEAD OF THE HOLY FAMILY,

SAINT JOSEPH, PATTERN OF PATIENCE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Wild iris this time.

© Gertrude Feick 2021