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

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saint: Saint Mel (d. 488); Saint Richard (8th century); Pope Blessed Pius IX (1792-1878)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:59 Humility

Mass: Gn 1:20-2:4a; Resp Ps 8; Mk 7:1-13  

Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, SON, MOTHER, AND HEAD OF HOLY FAMILY,

PRAY FOR US.

Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work He had been doing, He rested on the seventh day from the all the work He had undertaken.

(Gn 2:2)

Take a look around and see. It is no wonder God rested on the seventh day; He must have been tired. 

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,

This our hymn of grateful praise.

About the saints we commemorate today, Saint Mel, Saint Richard, and Blessed Pope Pius IX. It is said that Saint Mel or Moel was a Briton who came to Ireland with his uncle, Saint Patrick, with whom he worked until he was ordained. Saint Mel is one of the earliest Irish saints and gave the religious veil to Saint Brigid. Saint Richard was the father of three saints, Saints Willibald, Winnebald, and Walburga. Saint Richard has been called "King of the English". And among other things, Pope Blessed Pius IX convoked the First Vatican Council in 1868.*

SAINT MEL,

SAINT RICHARD,

POPE BLESSED PIUS IX,

SS. WILLEBALD, WINNEBALD, AND WALBURGA,

SAINT PATRICK,

SAINT BRIGID,

PRAY FOR US.

*See Universalis, "About Today," Catholic News Agency "St. Richard," and Vatican News, "Saint of the Day."

Today's photo: Welcome to the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, South America. Faithful reader, Catherine, and her husband just returned from a few weeks in Chile. About the National Park and the beauty of the place, Catherine commented, "Can never get enough. Completely over the top - what our Creater has made!!!" God looked at everything He made, and He found it very good.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Saints: Saints Paul Miki and his Companions, The Nagasaki Martyrs (1564/6-1597); Saints Gonsalo Garcia, Peter Baptista and Companions (-1597)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:56-58 Humility

Mass: Gn 1:1-19; Resp Ps 104; Mk 6:53-56  

Evening came, and morning followed - the first day.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

THE HOLY FAMILY, IMAGE OF THE BLESSED TRINITY HERE ON EARTH,

PRAY FOR US.

Let there be light ...

God saw how good it was.

(Gn 1:3, 18)

Welcome to Monday in this month of the Holy Family. Like the people in today's Gospel, we may scurry about. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Christ, though; He is in your town and mine too. Do you recognize Him? Reach out to touch Him, even if only the tassel on His cloak. As many as touched it were healed (Mk 6:56).

We are honored to commemorate the Nagasaki Martyrs this day and hear from an account of their martyrdom:

Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his "congregation" he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his "sermon" with these words: "As I come to this supreme moment in my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.

(From an account of the martyrdom of Saint Paul Miki and his companions, by a contemporary writer, in Office of Readings, February 6)

United in the same faith and in prayer, may we pardon our enemies and all who have offended us. May we live the faith with the same courage of so many who have gone before us. Keep going.

SAINTS PAUL MIKI AND COMPANIONS,

SAINTS GONSALO GARCIA, PETER BAPTISTA AND COMPANIONS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Welcome to the First Story of Creation as proclaimed this week, literally as seen early this morning. Robed in light as with a cloak. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

In other years: Saint Agatha (3rd century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:55 Humility

Mass: Is 58:7-10; Resp Ps 112; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16

Light shines through the darkness for the upright.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, CALLED THE "HOLY FAMILY" FROM ALL TIME,

PRAY FOR US.

That your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God.

(1 Cor 2:5)

Benvenuto, Papa Francesco. The Holy Father is back in Rome after his six-day Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Mary, Solus Populi Romani, pray for us. Help us this day and throughout this week to let our lights shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our heavenly Father. After all, we are the salt of the earth, we are about being courageous witnesses of the faith to all those we meet. And it is wonderful what a little kindness extended to another will do. It can certainly cure what ails you. Reach out to someone today. United in faith and prayer, we go forth and proclaim: Out with the dark and in with the Light! Thank you for being there, faithful readers. Jesus loves you!

We invoke Saint Agatha, patron saint of rape victims, breast cancer, wet nurses, and martyrs.

Agatha, her goodness coincides with her name and way of life. She won a good name by her noble deeds, and by her name she points to the nobility of her deeds. Agatha, her mere name wins all men over to her company. She teaches them by her example to hasten with her to the true Good, God alone.

(From a homily on Saint Agatha by Saint Methodius of Sicily, bishop, in Office of Readings, February 5)

To us, also, your servants,

who, though sinners,

hope in your abundant mercies,

graciously grant some share

and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs:

with ... Felicity, Perpetua,

Agatha, Lucy,

Agnes, Cecilia, Anastastia

and all your Saints;

admit us, we beseech you,

into their company,

not weighing our merits

but granting us your pardon,

through Christ our Lord.

(Roman Canon, Eucharistic Prayer I)

SAINT AGATHA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sunday needs white flowers; these sent by my dear cousin in Windsor. He is gracious and merciful and just.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of February Dedicated to the Holy Family

Catholic Schools Week

First Saturday of the Month

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saints: Saint Gilbert of Sempringham (1083-1190); Saint John de Britto (1647-1693); Blessed Mary-Eugene Grialou (1894-1967); Saint Catherine de Ricci OP (1522-1590); Saint Joseph of Leonessa (1556-1612)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 7:51-54 Humility

Mass: Heb 13:15-17, 20-21; Resp Ps 23; Mk 6:30-34    

He refreshes my soul.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US. 

HOLY FAMILY, CENTER OF PEACE AND CONCORD,

PRAY FOR US.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;

God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

(Heb 13:16)

Welcome to the First Saturday of the Month, this one a Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one with the Holy Father in South Sudan. This morning Pope Francis was busy in the Cathedral of Saint Therese in the nation's capital city of Juba addressing bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and lay pastoral workers. That's quite a crowd. Keep going, Papa Francesco. And once again, we also have plenty of saints to invoke to help us. Whatever we need this day, we turn to them and to Mary, the Mother of God with the words of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.*

Let us ask for grace

and let us ask through Mary

because she has found what she sought

and she cannot be disappointed.

Let us ask for grace

but grace with God.

For with human beings

grace is a delusion.

Let others ask for merit

let us eagerly seek grace.

Why?

Is it not by grace

that we are here?

This is the last day of Catholic Schools Week. We will continue, though, to pray for all teachers, students, staff, administration, parents, and all the faithful involved in the work of teaching our faith and passing on the richness of our tradition. We conclude this week then with words from Pope Saint John Paul II in his Message to the National Catholic Education Association of the United States, April 16, 1979. Pope John Paul II quotes Pope Saint Paul VI, from his September 15, 1975, Address to the Cardinals and Bishops of the United States of America.

 

With profound conviction I ratify and reaffirm the words that Paul VI originally spoke to the Bishops of your country:

"Brethren, we know the difficulties involved in preserving Catholic schools, and the uncertainties of the future, and yet we rely on the help of God and on your own zealous collaboration and untiring efforts, so that Catholic schools can continue, despite grave obstacles, to fulfill the providential role at the service of genuine Catholic education, and at the service of your country."

Yes, the Catholic school must remain a privileged means of Catholic education in America. As an instrument of the apostolate it is worthy of the greatest sacrifices.

May all the faithful make the necessary sacrifices to preserve Catholic schools in the United States of America. United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

MARY, QUEEN OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION,

POPE SAINT PAUL VI,

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, 

SAINT JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, 

SAINT GILBERT OF SEMPRINGHAM,

SAINT JOHN DE BRITTO,

BLESSED MARY-EUGUNE GRIALOU,

SAINT CATHERINE DE RICCI,

SAINT JOSEPH OF LEONESSA,

PRAY FOR US.

* In Mary Most Holy: Meditating With the Early Cistercians (Cistercian Publications, 2003), pp. 330-31.

Today's photo: Our Lady, this is for you. Seen early yesterday morning when things were fresh. Mary, Our Lady of the Protective Veil, pray for us.

© Gertrude Feick 2023