Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

October is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 18 The Order of the Psalmody - Ch 21 The Deans of the Monastery

For great is the Lord and highly to be praised.

MARY, VIRGIN MOST VENERABLE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

I am the Lord, there is no other.

(Is 45:6)

Welcome to the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, a week that begins on World Mission Sunday while we are still deeply immersed in October, the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. At the same time, it is not too early to begin preparation for the new Liturgical Year 2023/2024 that commences on the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2023. You may remember last year that I suggested choosing a patron saint for the New Year, or rather, letting a patron saint choose you as a companion for the year. My faithful companion for Liturgical Year 2022/2023 is Saint Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad (1870-1957), a Briggintine nun. Sadly, I do not remember her enough. However, I trust that she remembers me. That is something saints do - they do not forget all of us here on earth still responding to the universal call to holiness.

On the subject of saints, in other years we would commemorate the great Pope Saint John Paul II on October 22. I had the privilege of attending his beatification, May 1, 2011. I could go on about that forever. However, put simply, it was an awesome gathering of thousands of people from all over the world. And it is true that we may be inspired by the words of a saint, like ones below from our saint of day, or at least I hope so. That is one reason most of our voices for the week come from the mouths of saints. I am inspired by what they have to say to me, and perhaps you will be inspired too. Inspired, you just may decide to learn about a particular saint's life and be further inspired. In an article, the author Father Michael Rennier writes about the importance of knowing the lives of saints: "Through their lives-not simply by their words-the saints bring theological concepts to reality."* So maybe you have read, or will read, the words of a particular saint included in our voices for the week that is coming through loud and clear. Is there a saint that is inviting you to learn more about his or her life, and then inviting you to have a new patron saint for the Liturgical Year 2024? Remember to be open, your patron beckons in unexpected ways. 

With all this and more in mind, then, some of our voices come from saints commemorated this week, others not. 

Our first voice, though meant for clerics, is relevant for all the faithful and a nice one to help us "put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Rm 13:12). 

You are the light of the world. Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view. So it must be with the glowing lives of upright and holy clerics ... Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord.

(From the treatise Mirror of the Clergy by Saint John of Capistrano, priest, 1386-1456, in Office of Readings, October 23)

The love of Christ arouses us, urges us to run, and to fly, lifted on the wings of holy zeal. The man who truly loves God also loves his neighbor ... The zealous man desires and achieves all things and he labors strenuously so God may always be better known, loved and served in this world and in the life to come, for this is holy love without end.

(From a work by Saint Anthony Mary Claret, bishop, in Office of Readings, October 24)

But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. On those who waver, have mercy.

(Jude 20-22)

To be always close to Jesus, that's my life's plan.

The Eucharist in my highway to heaven. 

The Rosary is the ladder to climb to Heaven.

(Blessed Carlo Acutis, 1991-2006)

I need nothing but God and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.

(Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, 1647-1690)

To live without faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live but to "get along"; we must never just "get along."

(Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, 1901-1925)

If the saint is to become himself, he must become himself in Christ.

(Father Gregory Pine, O.P., Friar of the Province of Saint Joseph)

And we conclude with a prayer for the week, united as we are in faith and prayer. May we follow the example of Saint Paul, and, as he wrote to the Thessalonians, give thanks to God for each other, remember each other in prayer, and remember that each one of us is loved by God (see Th 1:1-5b). God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me (Rule of Saint Benedict, 18:1/Ps 70:2). Keep going.

O Virgin Mother,

guide and sustain us

so that we may always live

as true sons and daughters

of the Church of your Son.

Enable us to do our part

in helping to establish on earth

the civilization of truth and love,

as God wills it,

for His glory.

(Pope Saint John Paul, II, 1920-2005, Christifideles Laici The Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People, 64)

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

SAINT JOHN OF CAPISTRANO,

SAINT ETHELFLAEDA,

SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET,

SAINT MAGLIORE,

FREI GALVAO,

SAINT CHAD,

SAINT CEDD, 

SAINT OTTERAN,

SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

*Father Michael Rennier, "Knowing the Lives of Saints Will Transform Your Lives," in Aleteia, September 17, 2023.

Today's photo: Coming from the "House on the Hill" the other day, I stopped and looked. With awe and reverence, the words heard later from Anne Frank (1929-1945) now ring true: "I looked up in the sky and trusted in God." It is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being. Give God the praise. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

October is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 12 The Celebration of the Solemnity of Lauds - Ch 17 The Number of Psalms to Be Sung at These Hours

He refreshes my soul.

MARY, SINGULAR VESSEL OF DEVOTION,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!

(Is 25:9)

Marching on in this month of October dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, we have more heavy-hitter saints to invoke this week kicking it off with the great Doctor Saint Teresa of Avila, who wrote, "Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you ..." Why is it that we let things disturb us though 🤔. Rather, why not take a moment to breathe in the Holy Spirit and breathe out the Peace the world cannot give. And Saint Teresa continues ... 

All things pass away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things.

He who has God

Finds he lacks nothing;

God alone suffices. 

It happens that I have been going through some old journals which has proven to be both fun and enlightening, among other things. Fun? A November 1997 entry found me in New Zealand where I wrote, "I've written 45 postcards with two left." Rest assured, I did much more than write postcards. ☺However, I love to write postcards (and cards and letters!) and receive them too (hint). Just last week I received three postcards from the state of Maine! Enlightening? A 2003 entry found me in the midst of this exchange. Voice 1: "I don't have time to myself. My personal life is non-existent. Why?" Voice 2: "Because you said 'Yes', Sister." "Yes," is a very powerful word, one voice commented just the other day. And as it relates to today's Gospel (see Mt 22:1-14), the Lord invites each of us to the daily feast. Do you accept the invitation? Does your "Yes" really mean "Yes", no matter what? So, we pray with Pope Francis and all the faithful gathered today in Saint Peter's Square for the Angelus Address, "May Mary, who with her 'yes', made room for God, help us not to be deaf to his invitations." 

United in faith and prayer, we “rejoice and be glad that God has saved us" (Is 25:9). And as we go forth, we thank Saint Paul for his words of encouragement: "My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen" (Ph 4:19-20). Thy will be done.

Our voices this week come our great Saint and Doctor of the Church, Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, who influenced our beloved Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), also known as Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.* At the name of Jesus every knee should bend!

Oh, what a good friend You make, my Lord! How You proceed by favoring and enduring. You wait for others to adapt to Your nature, and in the meanwhile You put up with theirs!

(The Book of Her Life, Ch 8, 6)

Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else but an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.

(The Book of Her Life, Chapter 8, 5)

The important thing is not to think much but to love much.

(The Interior Castle)

Let us love the virtues and inward goodness, and let us always apply ourselves and take care to avoid attaching importance to externals.

(The Way of Perfection, Ch IV)

I mean that the King of glory will not come to our souls-that is, so as to united with them-unless we strive to gain the greatest virtues.

(The Way of Perfection, Ch XVI)

Although it is a great grace from God to practice self-examination, yet "too much is as bad as too little," as they say; believe me, by God's help, we shall advance more by contemplating the Divinity than by keeping our eyes fixed on ourselves, poor creatures of earth that we are ...

Our understanding and our will become more noble and capable of good in every way when we turn from ourselves to God.

(The Interior Castle, Ch 3, 8, 11)

Let the Christian be valiant.

(The Interior Castle, Chapter I, 13)

Getting used to solitude is a great help to prayer. Since prayer must be the foundation on which the house is built, it is necessary for us to learn to like whatever gives us the greatest help in it.

(The Way of Perfection, Chapter IV)

Humility, however deep it be, neither disquiets nor troubles nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy and tranquility.

(The Way of Perfection, Ch XXXIV)

SAINT TERESA OF AVILA, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH,

SAINT HEDWIG,

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUES,

SAINT MARGARET D'YOUVILLE,

SAINT RICHARD GWYN,

SAINT GALL,

SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,

SAINT LUKE,

SAINT JOHN DE BREBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES AND THEIR COMPANIONS,

SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS,

SAINT PHILIP HOWARD,

SAINT FRIDESWIDE,

SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA,

BLESSED DAUDI OKELO AND JILDO IRWA,

SAINT BERTILLA BOSCARDIN,

SAINT HILARION,

SAINT GASPARE OF THE BUFALO,

BLESSED CHARLES OF AUSTRIA,

PRAY FOR US.

*NB. Check out the Holy Father's hot off the press issued today, October 15, 2023, Apostolic Exhortation to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth the great Doctor and Saint Therese of Lisieux, C'est la confiance It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love. See www.vatican.va. Go Little Flower ⚘ go!

Today's photo: For our viewing pleasure, my beloved bro Thomas captured this live while doing a little work in his yard, Indianapolis, Indiana, The Hoosier State. Raindrops keep falling on my head ... Sun and moon, bless the Lord, praise and exalt Him forever! Saint Thomas, Saint Anselm of Canterbury, pray for us. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

October is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 7:59 Humility - Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

Take care of this vine.

MARY, MIRROR OF JUSTICE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

(Ph 4:9)

Welcome to the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time in the month of October dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. And if you don't know who Blessed Alan de la Roche (1428-1478) is (I just met him ☺) or what Blessed Alan de la Roche (1428-1478) said about the rosary, please allow me to pass along his words that I just heard: "The Holy Rosary is the storehouse of countless blessings." So, "recite your Rosary with faith," says Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716), and "with humility, with confidence, and with perseverance." After all, "the greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary" (Saint Francis de Sales, 1567-1622). Hail Mary, full of grace ... Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us. 

As it turns out, the Church offers us some of my favorites today. The first is quoted in the reading from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. There we hear an echo of the Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (Ps 118:22-23/Is 28:16). And it occurred to me during First Vespers yesterday afternoon that, because of this gift, I should certainly "have no anxiety all" (Ph 4:6), as Saint Paul writes. And that leads me to another favorite, not in the readings today, namely, "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Ps 127:1). It is the Cornerstone, the Rock, the firm foundation upon which we stand. Build your house on Him. Yes, "by the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes" (Ps 118:23). And "in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Ph 4:6-7). 

United in faith and prayer, let us sing about our friend and His vineyard (see Is 5:1), and go forth.

And now a word or two from our sponsors in heaven to keep us going.

Make my language clear, my Savior, open my mouth and, after filling it, penetrate my heart so that my acts may correspond to my words.

(Saint Romanus the Melodist, late 5th century-556) 

Let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin ... We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be Father's children who do His work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226, From a letter written to all the faithful, in Office of Readings, October 4)

O life so monotonous, how many treasures you contain! When I look at everything with the eyes of faith, no two hours are alike, and the dullness and monotony disappear.

(Saint Faustina Kowalska, 1905-1938)

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

(Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226)

Take every day as a ring which you must engrave, adorn, and embellish with your actions, to be offered up in the evening at the altar of God.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

God's works are done with clasped hands and on our knees. Even when we "run" we must rest spiritually on our knees before Him.

(Saint Luigi Orione, 1872-1940)

And to encourage us to pray the rosary during this month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, we have "Land of Lincoln" Illinois born, Venerable Fulton Sheen. 

The rosary is the book of the blind where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world have ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying then the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description.

(Venerable Fulton Sheen, 1895-1975)

MARIST MARTYRS OF BARCELONA,

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

SAINT DENIS AND HIS COMPANIONS,

SAINT JOHN LEONARDI,

SAINT JOHN HENRY NEWMAN,

BLESSED DOMINIC BARBERI,

SAINT PHILIP NERI,

SAINT PAULINUS,

SAINT DANIEL COMBONI,

SAINT KENNETH,

BLESSED WILLIAM HOWARD,

SAINT WILFRID,

BLESSED JAN BEYZYM,

OUR LADY OF APERECIDA, PATRONESS OF BRAZIL,

OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, PATRONESS OF SPAIN AND THE AMERICAS,

BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS, 

SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR,

POPE SAINT CALLISTUS

POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: And protect what Your right hand has planted.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

October is the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

Readings from the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 7:34-58 Humility  

Teach me your paths.

MARY, MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL,

MARY, MIRROR OF HOLINESS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Ph 2:10-11)

Welcome to the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time and the month of October dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us. 

In this month loaded with heavy hitter saints including two Doctors of the Church and the beloved il Poverello to intercede for us as we respond to the universal call to holiness, our introduction comes from the Holy Father Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, 32, 34:

Do not be afraid of holiness. It will not take away your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when He created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity ... Holiness does not make you less human, since it is an encounter between your weakness and the power of God's grace. For in the words of Leon Bloy, when all is said and done, "the only great tragedy in life is not to become a saint."

So, our voices this week come from a great Saint who did not shy away from becoming one. I will turn things over, then, to the Little Flower, that is, Saint Therese of Lisieux, also called Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.* 

I understood that to become a saint one had to suffer much, seek out always the most perfect thing to do, and forget self. I understood, too, there were many degrees of perfection and each soul was free to respond to the advances of Our Lord, to do little or much for Him, in a word, to choose among the sacrifices He was asking. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I cried out, "My God, 'I choose all!' I don't want to be a saint by halves, I'm not afraid to suffer for You, I fear only one thing: to keep my own will; so take it, for 'I choose all' that You will!"

(Manuscript A, Chapter I)

Was not Jesus my only Friend! I knew how to speak only to Him; conversations with creatures, even pious conversations, fatigued my soul. I felt it was far more valuable to speak to God than to speak about Him, for there is so much self-love intermingled with spiritual conversations.

(Manuscript A, Chapter IV)

Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.

(Manuscript B, Chapter IX)

I feel the vocation of the WARRIOR, THE PRIEST, THE APOSTLE, THE DOCTOR, THE MARTYR. Finally, I feel the need and the desire of carrying out the most heroic deeds for You, O Jesus. I feel within my soul the courage of the Crusader, the Papal Guard, and I would want to die on the field of battle in defense of the Church.

(Manuscript B, Chapter IX)

Charity gave me the key to my vocation ... LOVE COMPRISED ALL VOCATIONS, THAT LOVE WAS EVERYTHING, THAT IT EMBRACED ALL TIMES AND PLACES ... IN A WORD, THAT IT WAS ETERNAL!

Then, in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my Love ... my vocation at last I have found it ... MY VOCATION IS LOVE!

(Manuscript B, Chapter IX)

Everything I have, everything I merit, is for the good of the Church and for souls.

(Epilogue)

And finally, some words from The Little Flower about three months before she died, words that certainly ring true:

I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission of making others love God as I love Him, my mission of teaching my little way to souls. If God answers my requests, my heaven will be spent on earth up until the end of the world. Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.

(Epilogue)

Beloved Saint Therese of Child Jesus and all of the holy ones commemorated this week, please help us to preserve our lives and live by turning away for all the sins that we have committed (See Ezk 18:27-28). Help us to do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than ourselves, each of us looking out not for our own interests, but all for those of others (See Ph 2:3-4). In faith and with prayer, may we be of the same mind, with the same love, and united in heart (See Ph 2:2). Keep going!

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX,

ALL THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS,

THE BLESSED MARTYRS OF SUSSEX,

SAINT THOMAS CANTILUPE,

BLESSED ANDRE DE SOVERAL AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA,

SAINT THEODORE GUERIN,

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI,

SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA,

BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS,

SAINT BRUNO,

BLESSED MARIE ROSE DUROCHER,

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY,

PRAY FOR US.

*All quotations come from Saint Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux Study Edition (ICS, 2005). This edition might be considered for a book club or discussion group. ☺ Another book to consider, perhaps as a companion book, or introduction to the Little Flower, is Heather King, Shirt of Flame: A Year with Saint Therese of Lisieux. In fact, I stumbled across that little gem while cleaning some shelves one day. It jumped out at me as happens sometimes; it turned out to be just the book I needed. 

Today's photo: In honor of “The Little Flower," she speaks again: "It seems to me that if a little flower could speak, it would tell simply what God has done for it without trying to hide its blessings" (Manuscript A, Chapter I).

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary

Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 6 - Ch 7:33 Humility Restraint of Speech

Every day I will bless you.

MARY, CONQUERER OF THE INCREDULOUS,

MARY, PROTECTRESS OF THOSE WHO FIGHT,

MARY, HELP OF THE FAINT,

MARY, QUEEN OF THY SERVANTS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel.

(Ph 1:27a)

Welcome to the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time in the last week of the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Have you checked out the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows yet? If not, there is still time. As seen above, I have invoked our Blessed Mother under a few of my favorite titles from the litany. Dear Mary, treasure of the faithful, please cover us in your protective veil and pray for us!

It was during First Vespers yesterday afternoon that I thought of Saint Benedict and his Holy Rule, specifically Ch 34. Distribution of Goods According to Need. What prompted my thinking was today's Gospel (Mt 20:1-16a). It is there that Jesus tells us the parable about the landowner and the laborers. There are many layers to the parable, and also several perspectives to look at it, and reflect on the effect of Jesus' words on our lives. One thing we do know about the passage is that at the end of a day's work there was a lot of grumbling about. You see, the landowner paid all the laborers the same wage, whether they worked all day in the heat, or showed up later in the day for just a few hours of work. "This just isn't fair," grumbled the first group. "We certainly worked much harder and longer than the others!" Putting things a bit closer to home, we might think of the colleague who was promoted over "me." "She is much younger and has only worked here for two years and look it, I have been here for 20 years!" Or at home, when Clotilde is incredulous that mom brought home a new pair of sneakers for Bonaventure who needed them and didn't bring her a new pair even though she didn't need them! And these sorts of things go on in a monastery too, and wherever humans are gathered. If it were not so, Saint Benedict would not have written Ch. 34. With wisdom and insight into human nature, our holy father Benedict put it this way:

It is written: Distribution was made to each one as he had need (Acts 4:35). By this we do not imply that there should be favoritism-God forbid-but rather consideration for weaknesses. Whoever needs less should thank God and not be distressed, but whoever needs more should feel humble because of his weakness, not self-important because of the kindness shown to him. In this way all the members will be at peace. First and foremost, there must be no word or sign of the evil of grumbling, no manifestation of it for any reason at all. If, however, anyone is caught grumbling, let him undergo more severe discipline.

Something else to consider is that we never know the whole story. For example, why were some of the laborers idle in the marketplace? It is easy to make assumptions. However, maybe some of the laborers were exhausted after being engaged in spiritual and/or corporeal works of mercy like comforting the sorrowful or visiting the imprisoned or the sick. Or maybe some of them were up all night working another job so as to "put Keds on the kids," so to speak. As a teacher of pastoral counseling taught me, "You may try to walk in someone else's shoes, but remember, you will never walk in someone else's shoes. " Thankfully too, Jesus loves all of us, whether we are full of energy or exhausted. 

"To be a Christian," said Willi Graf (1918-1943), "is perhaps the hardest thing to ever become in life." So, united in faith and prayer, we pray to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel, and that is a way of love, mercy, forgiveness, and abundant generosity, putting aside all assumptions, jealousy, envy, suspicion, and animosity. Dear Willi was right, this will keep us busy and is perhaps the hardest way to ever become in life. However, our reward will be great in heaven. It seems that Blessed Solanus Casey's words are always fitting: "Thank God ahead of time." And being thankful takes a lot less energy than grumbling. 

About our beloved saints for the week, I gained insight on our relationships with the saints thanks to Lisa Lickona who writes regularly for the Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine: "After eight years of writing about the saints day in and day out," Mrs. Lickona wrote, "I find myself attempting less and less to imitate them. But I do want to follow them ... Following means beginning to get to the heart of what a saint is teaching us through their lives. It's less about copying someone else's life and more about immersing oneself in his or her way of being and way of seeing the world. It is beginning to see with the 'eyes of the heart' (Eph 1:18).* So why not choose one of our saints of the week and see how he or she may help you see with eyes of your heart. 

Our voices for this week serve several purposes. First, I honor a dear friend and mentor of happy memory, Father Paschal Cheline, OSB (1936-2015), whose anniversary of birth is next month. And it was Father Paschal who said, among other gems, that reading a novel is a necessary part of the spiritual life. Novels help to bring one out of the day-to-day drudgery and get in touch with other people, many of whom have more complicated lives than we. Through the characters we meet, with their varied stories, we just might gain a widened outlook, a new perspective on things, and develop more compassion. Who knows. ☺ Always busy with a novel himself, Father Paschal would recommend good reading. I took his teaching to heart not only in my personal life, but also with students. I made a novel required reading for classes; I might recommend one, or the student was free to choose one. So, our voices for the week all come from a novel I just finished, passed to me by my dear sister, and now passed to you for your consideration. It is a work of historical fiction by Lynda Rutledge, West with Giraffes: A Novel (Lake Union: 2021). Here are the passages I marked (some rather long-winded like me lol), the first one brings a grin to my face.

At that, the Old Man whopped that poor fedora of his to the ground and stomped it flat, produced a rolling cuss I would have admired any other time, creative as sin and the length of a long spiral spit into the wind.

(p. 144)

Home's not the place you're from, Woody. Home's the place you want to be.

(p. 215)

The land you grow up in is a forever thing, remembered when all else is forgotten, whether it did you right or wrong. Even when it flat near kills you. Even when it invades your dreams and stokes your nightmares. Even when you run from it never to return, then find yourself headed straight back for it, and the best you can wish for is to drive through it with your head down and your wits about you, dodging the worst of it so you can get on with your young life somewhere else.

(p. 227)

I didn't know which would keep me driving-the lie or the truth. You can carry around a heavy load only for so long, and that goes double if you're only eighteen.

(p. 277)

The thing about knowing you are doing something for the last time is that it takes the joy right out of it. I've done lots of things for the last time in my long life, but didn't know it.

(p. 301)

We had left an hour before dawn again, By the time we were watching the moon set on one side of us and the sun rise on the other, we'd all fallen into a moving bit of peace. I'd felt a sliver of that peaceful feeling after we'd made it through the mountains. This time, though, it was long and lingering and soul-soothing deep. It seems now like the closest thing to praying I'd ever done. When I'd live a little longer and heard people talking about such things, calling it by spiritual names, I'd want to scoff but couldn't. In the years ahead, through the War and beyond, it was this quiet day moving through the unmoving land with Boy and Girl and the Old Man and Red that I returned to when I needed it most ... its peace passed any understanding, any attempt at words. You only get a few of those in your life if you're lucky, and some only get one. If that be true, this was my one. When I remember it, I'm not eighteen in the memory. I am whatever age its came to me, be it 33 or 103 ...

(p. 304)

There's no explaining the world, boy. How you come into it. Where you find yourself. Or who your friends turn out to be-be you man or be you beast.

(p. 310)

Cyrus smiled. "Well, now, I wouldn't go so far as calling him a liar. Nobody abides a liar. But everybody sure likes a good storyteller, don't they? Sometimes the best medicine is a good story.

(p. 332)

It's a strange thing how you can spend years with some folks and never know them, yet, with others, you need only a handful of days to know them far beyond years.

(p. 333)

Time spent with animals is added to your life.

(p. 334)

Time heals all wounds, they say. I'm here to tell you that time can wound you all on its own. In a long life, there is a singular moment when you know you've made more memories than any new ones you'll ever make. That's the moment your truest stories-the ones that made you the you that you became-are ever more in front of your mind, as you begin to reach back for the you that you deemed best.

(p. 336)

It's a foolish man who thinks stories do not matter-when in the end, they may be all that matter and all the forever we'll ever know ... And it is a selfish man who takes stories to the grave that aren't his and his alone. Shouldn't you know your mother's brave heart and daring dreams? And shouldn't you know your friends, even though we're gone?

(p. 339)

SAINT STEPHANIE,

OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM,

BLESSED EMILIE TAVERNIER-GAMELIN,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF FLUE,

SAINT FINBARR,

SAINT HERMANN CONTRACTUS,

SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIAN,

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL,

SAINT LOUISE DE MARILLAC,

SAINT WENCESLAUS,

SAINT LAURENECE RUIZ AND HIS COMPANIONS,

SAINT LIOBA,

SAINT MICHAEL,

SAINT GABRIEL,

SAINT RAPHAEL,

SAINT JEROME,

PRAY FOR US.

* L. Lickona, "Learning to Follow with Padre Pio and Mother Seton," in Seton Reflections, September 23, 2023.

Today's photo: The glow of this beauty illuminates this heart of leaf. The Lord is holy in all His works.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary

Rule of Saint Benedict Reading for the Week: Ch 4 The Tools for Good Works - Ch 5 Obedience 

Heals all your ills.

MARY, CALMER OF TEMPESTS,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Welcome to the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time still in the month of September dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Thank you for tuning in after a couple weeks of silence on my part. It goes like this; I took a "vacation." Now this particular vacation was kind of like the vacation I took from regular Mass attendance when I was in my 20s or so. I thought to stop going to Mass to see how it went. In fairly short order, I missed Mass and realized that Mass was not something to take a vacation from. In like manner, with these weekly musings in the form of a blog, I tried to take a vacation. Well, as you can see, it took only two weeks to realize that random musings are not something for me to take a vacation from. And it is all fitting as about six years ago, when I inquired about vacations, I was told quite simply: "Cistercians don't take vacations." There you have it then: We don't take a vacation from Mass and so united in faith and prayer, none of us takes a vacation from the daily ora et labora. As Saint Paul tells us then: None of lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's (Rm 14:7-8). Encouraged, we keep going because "being a light to the nations," as I was told the other day, "takes a lot of energy." And in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, dear "golden-mouth": 

Do not say: it is impossible for me to influence others. If you are a Christian, it is impossible for this not to happen. Things found in nature cannot be denied; so here, for it is a question of the nature of a Christian.

Do not insult God: If you say that the sun cannot shine, you have insulted Him. If you say that a Christian cannot help others, you have insulted God and called Him a liar. It is easier for the sun not to give warmth or shine than for the Christian to not shed his light. It is easier for the light to be darkness than for this to happen.

Do not say that it is impossible. The opposite is impossible. Do not insult God. If we have put our affairs in order, these things will certainly come to be, and will follow as a natural consequence. The light of a Christian cannot escape notice. So bright a lamp cannot be hidden.

(Saint John Chrysostom, from a homily on the Acts of the Apostles, in Office of Readings, Common of Holy Men)

This week how about we focus on forgiveness and reconciliation starting with some of Saint Benedict's Tools for Good Works, namely, "harbor neither hatred or jealousy of anyone, and do nothing out of envy. Do not love quarreling; shun arrogance. Respect the elders and love the young. 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. And finally, never lose hope in God's mercy" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:65-74). And we have plenty of voices to encourage us, starting with one we heard a few weeks ago.

Seventy-seven times forgiveness acknowledges that I do not see the whole story, that God does not love me more than He loves those with whom I am in conflict. It is absolute surrender and love, and extravagant kind of grace, and undeserved forgiveness that holds out a hand that may be refused.

(Mother Saint Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997)

There are many ways of excusing sins. One will say: "I didn't do it." Another: "I did it, but I was perfectly right in doing it." If it was wrong, he may say: "It isn't all that bad." If it was decidedly harmful, he can fall back on: "I meant well." If the bad intention is too evident, he will take refuge in the excuses of Adam and Eve and say someone else led him into it.

(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Steps of Pride and Humility, XVII, 45)

It is only by God's grace that we find the strength to put aside what we are due in justice and charity in order to turn towards others who have deeply hurt us with mercy ... Forgiveness must be unconditionally and freely given as Christ has given it to us ...

The question we are faced with each day as we experience the pain and sin of others, on top of the reality of our own sinfulness and weaknesses, is how do we want to live? Do we want to allow the rejections we endure at the hands of others-especially those closest to us-to stifle our willingness and ability to love others? Do we want to cling to bitter resentment, which turns us into shells of people? Do we want to join in Lucifer's non serviam because we don't want to be crucified on the Cross of forgiveness?

(Constance T. Hull, "The Supernatural Power of Forgiveness," in Catholic Exchange, September 7, 2023)

With Mrs. Hull's words, then, we might ponder something Major Pettigrew thought to himself:

No one really contemplates death when making life decisions, thought the Major. If they did, what different choices might they make?

(Major Pettigrew in Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel, Random House, 2011)

And of something Saint Benedict tells us:

Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:47)

And furthermore,

No one heals himself by wounding another.

(Saint Ambrose, 339-397)

An insult is either sustained or destroyed, not by the disposition of those who insult, but in the disposition of those who bear it.

(Saint John Chrysostom, 347-407)

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)

Forgiveness often seems impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. The God who lives within us will give us the grace to go beyond our wounded selves and say, "In the Name of God you are forgiven."

(Henri Nouwen, 1932-1996)

And this prayer from the son of Saint Monica, Doctor of the Church Saint Augustine, bears another showing:

Grant that I may say with confidence: O my God, forgive me as I forgive others. Grant that I may pray to you with a peaceful heart for those who have hurt me, teach me to conquer myself and to check the impulse which would lead me to take revenge.

(Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430)

We have quite a few saints to intercede for us this week, plus a few of my favorites thrown into the mix ... For all the saints ... Please, help us to lift high the cross and forgive those who trespass against us. 

SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE,

SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN,

SAINT ALBERT OF JERUSALEM,

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO,

SAINT MARY OF CAMPOROSSO,

SAINT EMILY DE RODAT,

SAINT EDITH KEMSING,

SAINT STANSILAW KOSTKA,

SAINT JANUARIUS,

SAINT THEODORE OF TARSUS,

SAINT ANDREW KIM TAEGON, PAUL CHONG HASANG, AND COMPANIONS,

SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST,

SAINT MAURICE AND THE THEBAN LEGEND,

SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA,

SAINT PIO OF PETRELCINA,

SAINT ADOMNAM OF IONA,

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX,

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This one helps to heal all that ills. So surpassing is His kindness toward those who fear Him.

© Gertrude Feick 2023

Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

September is the month dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary

In other years: Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Prologue 14 - Ch 1 The Kinds of Monks  

Mass: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Resp Ps 63; Rm 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27

All my being, bless His holy name.

MARY, STRENGTH OF THE WEAK,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

(Romans 12:2)

Welcome to the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time and the month of September dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. And as Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron wrote to his uncle, "Given Mary, how could you not love God!!" So, through Mary, give God the praise!

To act on Saint Paul's words to the Romans quoted above, we certainly need the help of Saint Michael the Archangel, guardian of souls. Here is one way to respond, given by the late Father Bonaventure Perquin, O.P. (d. 1970): "We need to discipline our imagination and learn to live each day as it comes, remembering that God's will is infinitely wise, merciful, and tender, and that He unfailingly gives us the grace we need to accept His will, but only at the exact moment we need it. Then we really live by faith, trust, and love." In another place, Father Bonaventure said: "We must bend down and take up [our cross], as our Lord did, and not accept it passively. And it has to be our own cross too, not someone else's; carrying our own cross is how we work out the task planned for us by the Father." And as it turns out, as it often does, these are all ways to heed Jesus' words in today's Gospel: Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Mt 16:24-25). Not my will, Lord, but yours be done. Thankfully, the Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father's glory, and then He will repay all according to his conduct (Mt 16:27). I believe, help my unbelief. Amen.

Since we have the privilege and honor of commemorating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8th, all voices will be in praise of Our Lady. United in faith and prayer, and as "we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love" (Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 49). Mary, treasure of the faithful, pray for us.

The spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God.

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2502)

Surely we'd go mad if we truly loved Mary. By honoring the Virgin, we will love Jesus more. By placing ourselves under her mantle, we will understand divine mercy better. When we invoke Her name, it's as if everything becomes lighter. When we turn to Her as our intercessor, what will we not receive from Her Son, Jesus?

(Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron, 1911-1938)

Mary believed. It was demanded of her that she constantly renew this faith, that it might become ever firmer, more bare of supports-greater ... Every step the Lord took toward His divine destiny Mary took with Him-not in the way of understanding but in the way of faith.

(Romano Guardini, 1885-1968)

As sailors are guided by a star to the port, so are Christians guided to Heaven by Mary.

(Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274)

Love Our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace for you to help you conquer in your daily struggle. And the enemy will gain nothing by those foul things that continually seem to boil and rise within you, seeking to swallow up in their perfumed corruption the high ideals, the sublime determination that Christ Himself has set in your heart.

(Saint Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer Albas, 1902-1975)

My mother [Mary] is very strange; if I bring her flowers she says she does not want them; if I bring her cherries, she will not take them, and if I then ask what she desires, she replies: "I desire thy heart, for I live on hearts."

(Saint Joseph of Cupertino, 1603-1663)

In dangers

in hardships

in every doubt

think of Mary

call out to Mary.

Keep her in your mouth

keep her in your heart ...

With your hand in hers

you will never stumble.

With her protecting you

you will not be afraid.

With her leading you

you will never tire.

Her kindness 

will see you through to the end.

Then you will know 

by your own experience

how true it is that

the Virgin's name was Mary.

(Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153)

POPE SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT,

POPE SAINT BONIFACE I,

SAINT CUTHBERT,

SAINT MAC NISSI,

BLESSED DINA BELANGER,

SAINT HERBERT,

MOTHER SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA,

SAINT THOMAS ZUGI,

SAINT CLOUD,

BLESSED RALPH CORBY,

SAINT PETER CLAVER,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. Dear faithful readers, thank you for being there. Please have patience over the next couple of weeks as our website is undergoing process improvement. For now, laboratory tests are underway and the experts (that would not be me) are busy. No computer whiz, I just say, in God we trust. ☺ Keep going there and I will here. Ora pro invicem.

Today's photo: Taken some time ago, this one still reminds us to call upon the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. You are my help, in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023