Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Blessed Pope Eugene III, first Cistercian to become pope (1080-1153); Saint Kilian (-689); Saint Withburga (-c.743)

Readings of the Day

RB: RB 31:1-12 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer 

Mass: Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5; Resp Ps 105; Mt 10:7-15 

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

HEART OF JESUS, IN WHOM ARE ALL TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Today we have yet another one of Saint Benedict's most beautiful chapters, Ch 31 "Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer." It is a demanding job and requires strength of character, faithfulness, and honesty. Some other qualities of the one chosen to fulfill this service are that she be wise, mature in conduct, not proud or wasteful (RB 31:1). The monastery cellarer takes care of everything, but does nothing without an order from the abbess (RB 31:3-4). Another requirement of the cellarer is that she "regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar, aware that nothing is to be neglected" (Ch 31:10). Utensils and goods of the monastery are things, yes, but they are also people, those with whom you live, work, pray, and continue the search for God. How might you treat all utensils and goods of your home, office, or wherever you are, as sacred vessels of the altar? "Go to Joseph" as in yesterday's post. He treated his brothers as sacred vessels of the altar. He did not chastise them for selling him as a slave. As Joseph said, "It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you" (Gn 45:5). 

BLESSED POPE EUGENE III,

SAINT KILIAN,

SAINT WITHBURGA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

My Father and I will come and make our home with him. Let your door stand open to receive Him, unlock your soul to Him, offer Him a welcome in your mind, and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the door of grace. 

(From an exposition of psalm 118 by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, July 8, 2021)

Today's photo: Welcome to the world, precious baby girl, the newest member of the growing Feick family. By the Lord has this been done; it is marvelous in our eyes. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Blessed Peter To Rot (b. 1912): Saint Maelruain (-c.791)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 30 The Manner of Reproving Boys

Mass: Gn 41:55-57, 42:5-7, 17-24a; Resp Ps 33; Mt 10:1-7

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

JOSEPH, LIGHT OF PATRIARCHS,

PRAY FOR US.

In the first reading at Mass today, when there is hunger in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to "go to Joseph" and do whatever he told them. Pope Francis has this to say in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde With a Father's Heart (1): "Popular trust in Saint Joseph is seen in the expression "Go to Joseph", which evokes the famine in Egypt, when the Egyptians begged Pharaoh for bread. He in turn replied, "Go to Joseph, what he says to you, do" (Gn 41:55). Pharaoh was referring to Joseph the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers (cf. Gen 37:11-28) and who-according to the biblical account-subsequently became the viceroy of Egypt (cf. Gn 41:41-44).

Pope Francis also reminds us that special prayers are offered to Saint Joseph on Wednesdays (Patris Corde 1). Why not "go to Joseph" today and pray for his help and guidance. The following is a beautiful prayer, included before, one which Pope Francis has been praying every day following Lauds for over 40 years. We can also remember Pope Francis in our prayers. He continues to recover nicely from recent surgery. May Saint Joseph intercede for him.

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power.

Amen.  

Remember, Lord, your Church and deliver her from all evil. Perfect her in your love; and, once she has been sanctified, gather her together from the four winds into the kingdom which you have prepared for her. For power and glory are yours forever.

(From the ancient document entitled "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles" in Office of Readings, July 7, 2021)

BLESSED PETER TO ROT,

SAINT MAELRUAIN,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: This from d in West Linn, OR. She and her dog Augie were on a walk last Sunday and came across these beautiful wildflowers.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin, Martyr (1890-1902); Saint Moninne (c.432-c.518)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 29 Readmission of Brothers Who Leave the Monastery

Mass: Gn 32:23-33; Resp Ps 17; Mt 9:32-38

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God.

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

I am inspired by our saint of the day, Saint Maria Goretti, and her witness to the faith. At the same time, I am inspired by the man who killed her, Alessandro Serenelli. You can read the account of their story from any number of sources. In short, Maria, at the age of 11, yes, 11, refused to give in to the sexual advances of 20 year old Alessandro. Not liking that at all, Alessandro ended up stabbing Maria 14 times. Maria died shortly thereafter but not without forgiving Alessandro first. Maria said this: "I forgive Alessandro, I forgive him with all my heart; and I want him to be with me in heaven." There is more to it though. In prison, Alessandro repented, due largely in part to dreams he had of Maria. Maria's mother was at her daughter's canonization in 1950, and it is said that Alessandro was there too. However, it is certain that Alessandro spent his last years in a Capuchin monastery, where in died in 1970. With God all things are possible. And as Jesus says in today's Gospel: The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest (Mt 9:38). 

The life of this simple girl-I shall concern myself only with highlights-we can see as worthy of heaven. Even today people can look at it with admiration and respect. Parents can learn from her story how to raise their God-given children in virtue, courage and holiness ...

From Maria's story carefree children and young people with their zest for life can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sights on achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult and hazardous that course may prove ...

Not all of us are expected to die a martyr's death, but we are called to the pursuit of Christian virtue. This demands strength of character though it may not match that of this innocent girl ...

So let us all, with God's grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of the virgin martyr, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayers to the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the inspiring example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in heaven.

(From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti by Pope Pius XII, in Office of Readings, July 6)

SAINT MARIA GORETTI,

SAINT MONINNE,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Back with beauty in Windsor, CA.

 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Saints: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336); Saint Antony Mary Zaccaria, Priest (1502-1539); Saint Modwen, Irish Virgin and Hermit (7th century); Blessed George Nichols, Richard Yaxley, Thomas Belson, Humphrey Pritchard, Martyrs (-1589)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 28 Those Who Refuse to Amend After Frequent Reproofs

Mass: Gn 28:10-22a; Resp Ps 91; Mt 9:18-26

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

COME, YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, SAYS THE LORD: I WAS SICK, AND YOU VISITED ME. AMEN, I SAY TO YOU: WHATEVER YOU DID FOR THE ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN YOU DID IT FOR ME.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

May our faith, like that of the woman who touches the tassel on Jesus' cloak (Mt 9:20), save us. Corraggio. 

We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us, rather than abhor and despise them, since they harm themselves and do us good, and adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory while they incite God's anger against themselves. And even more than this, we should pray for them and not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by goodness.

(From a sermon to fellow members of his society by Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, priest, in Office of Readings, July 5)

Peace among brethren is the will of God, the joy of Christ, the completion of holiness, the rule of justice, the teacher of truth, the guardian of morals and a praiseworthy discipline in every regard. Peace lends strength to our prayers; it is the way our petitions can reach God easily and be credited; it is the plentitude which fulfills our desires. 

(From a sermon attributed to Peter Chrysologus, bishop, in Office of Readings, July 4)

Search within your heart for what is pleasing to God. Your heart must be crushed. Are you afraid that it might perish so? You have the reply: Create a clean heart in me, O God. For a clean heart to be created, the unclean one must be crushed.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, Office of Readings, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL,

SAINT ANTONY MARY ZACCARIA,

SAINT MODWEN,

BLESSED GEORGE NICHOLS, RICHARD YAXLEY, THOMAS BELSEN, HUMPHREY PRITCHARD,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I discovered this beauty, tucked away nicely, in the late afternoon yesterday.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Independence Day, the Fourth of July. God bless America. 

In other years: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925); Blessed John Cornelius (-1594); Blessed Maria Crocifissa Curcio (1877-1957)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 27 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated

Mass: Ezk 2:2-5; Resp Ps 123; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6

Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for mercy.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

May it be a day filled with awe and wonder. Jesus is in town. He is in your heart too. Be open to His love and mercy and share it with all those you meet today. Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17).

i thank you God for most this amazing

e.e. cummings

i thank you God for most this amazing 

day; for the leaping greenly spirit of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth

day of life and of love and wings;and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any-lifted from the no

of all nothing-human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope on earth.

(Abraham Lincoln)

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI,

BLESSED JOHN CORNELIUS,

BLESSED MARIA CROCIFISSA CURCIO,

MARY IMMACULATE,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Paintbrush in patriotic red.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle

Year of Saint Joseph

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

First Saturday of the Month

Other saints: Our Lady of Budslau (Belarus)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 26 Unauthorized Association with the Excommunicated

Mass: Eph 2:19-22; Resp Ps 117; Jn 20:24-29

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

YOU ARE MY GOD AND I CONFESS YOU; YOU ARE MY GOD, AND I EXALT YOU; I WILL THANK YOU, FOR YOU BECAME MY SAVIOR.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

It seems a good day to go with Jesus' greeting to the disciples as He stood in their midst, just as He stands in our midst, as He is present with you right now: Peace be with you (Jn 20:26). May we respond like Thomas, "My Lord and my God" (Jn 20:28). I believe help my unbelief. 

The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ's wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

(From a homily on the Gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, pope, in Office of Readings, July 3)

SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE,

OUR LADY OF BUDSLAU,

SAINT JOSEPH,

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES, 

PRAY FOR US. 

Today's photo: More beauty in Windsor, CA.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

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

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 25 Serious Faults

Mass: Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67; Resp Ps 106; Mt 9:9-13

All peoples clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!

HEART OF JESUS, SOURCE OF ALL CONSOLATION,

HAVE MERCY ON US. 

In a Vatican media interview with Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who was in Rome recently for the celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, His Eminence Emmanuel said something that I continue to reflect on. I include it here for your reflection and also because it relates in some ways to Jesus' simple call to Matthew in today's Gospel: Follow me (Mt 9:13). Maybe we need to not think so much about it and just respond more like Matthew did, that is to get up and follow Jesus.

Announcing the Gospel in the world is not a matter of strategy. I fear we are thinking more about the survival of Christianity than about sharing the good news of the Risen Christ.

Today's photo: A burst of beauty in my cousin's yard in Windsor, CA, what she likes to call "firecracker plants" as they always appear in time for the Fourth of July. Officially, these lovely flowers are called Agapanthus, or a neighbor said she always called them Lily of the Nile. May God be praised. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021