The “saints next door” are holy “each in his or her own way.” Pope Francis says in Gaudete et Exultate. How about canonized saints? If you look at the saints we celebrate the last few weeks in our liturgy, they’re holy, each in their own way too.

St. Romuald, the founder of the Camadolese, remembered on June 19th, found the religious communities of his day hard to live with– they found him hard to live with too. He liked to be alone, but alone to face the mystery of God, not because he didn’t like other people. He was called to be a hermit. To know God on our own, alone, in our inner room, is part of the call we all have. Romuald reminds us of that.

St. Paulinus of Nola (June 22), a gregarious 5th century bishop, is Romuald’s opposite. He started life in politics as a member of a well-heeled Roman family. After his only child died and then his wife, he accepted God’s call to begin a larger family. As bishop of Nola in Italy he promoted the shrine of St. Felix as a pilgrimage center. The more people came, the better. He liked people. Celebrations with ringing bells and processions and statues were his specialty. In fact, if you head to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY, around his feast, you may see Italians from his area in Italy carrying a gigantic tower honoring the saint. He promoted popular religion.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga ( June 21 ) also belonged to a powerful, aristocratic family, who were shocked when the young man announced, after hearing stories of Jesuit missionaries in China, that he was entering the Jesuits. His family did everything to stop him, but the young man wouldn’t listen. He entered the Jesuits. In 1591 a fierce plague broke out in Rome where Aloysius was studying and he took care of the victims, despite his own bad health. He died from the plague, expressing his conviction that God called him to this dangerous ministry. Today he’s celebrated as a patron of those who care for victims of AIDS.

St. Thomas More (June 22) is known to many through Robert Bolt’s “Man for All Seasons” which follows More’s confrontation with Henry VIII that ended with his death in the Tower of London July 6, 1535. Bolt’s title, taken from a contemporary’s description of More, captures his complex, many-faceted personality. He was learned, devoted to his family (promoted education for women) active in his society and his church. More’s holiness was expansive. It belongs to all of life’s seasons.
Interesting to note that More and Bishop John Fisher are honored in the Church of England’s calendar (July 6) as “saints and heroes of the Christian church.”

JUNE 21 Mon Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious Memorial Gn 12:1-9/Mt 7:1-5 

22 Tue Weekday [Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas More, Martyrs] Gn 13:2, 5-18/Mt 7:6, 12-14 

23 Wed Weekday

Gn 15:1-12, 17-18/Mt 7:15-20 

24 Thu THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Solemnity

Is 49:1-6/Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66, 80 

25 Fri Weekday Gn 17:1, 9-10, 15-22/Mt 8:1-4 

26 Sat Weekday Gn 18:1-15/Mt 8:5-17 

27 SUN THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24/2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15/Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

We read from the later part of the Book of Genesis this week in our lectionary. The first 10 chapters described the increase and spread of humanity, beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve. Chapter 11-50 offers the story of Israel, beginning with Abraham. One difference between the two: the first chapters describe the nations settling down. In the story of Israel, Abraham is called to set out to a land God will show. 

The Nativity of John the Baptist, June 25th,  is a solemnity, celebrating the birth of John 6 months before the birth of Jesus. 

Saints like Aloysius Gonzaga remind us that young people can be saints too.

Tuesday we remember English martyrs, John Fischer, Thomas More, “Man for All Seasons.”

The weather’s unpredictable these days. Weather reports have become a major part of the news. Should look at weather in another way.

“Just as from the heavens

the rain and snow come down, and do not return there

till they have watered the earth,

making it fertile and fruitful,

giving seed to the one who sows

and bread to the one who eats,

so shall my word be

that goes forth from my mouth;

It shall not return to me void,

but shall do my will,

achieving the end for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55,10)

Isaiah tells us to look at our weather in a deeper way. Does weather tell us how God blesses us?  Like rain or snow God’s blessings come, making our lives fruitful. Yes, they will surely come, but how about the times we have to wait, when no rain or snow comes at all? Or when storms and drought come?

God’s blessings are like the weather.

Should we think of God’s blessings through the Sign of the Cross. We say “we bless ourselves” when we make this sign. Sometimes God’s blessing comes through the cross of glory and we receive blessings never imagined through his tender mercy. Like a beautiful day.

Sometimes his blessings takes another form of his cross– disappointment, suffering, failure, sickness, death. There God’s blessings are mostly hidden and hard to see. Like a stormy or brutally hot or cold day?

In Matthew’s gospel these days, Jesus speaks about prayer. Is this blessing also like the weather. Prayer is a gift, but it’s a gift like the rain and snow. It’s one of God’s greatest gifts to us, yet sometimes we find it hard to pray while at other times it wells up within us.

Or, as we see our threatened environment today, is our unpredictable weather a warning that we need to take care of this fragile world of ours?

God’s blessing are like the weather.

June 14 Mon Weekday 2 Cor 6:1-10/Mt 5:38-42 

15 Tue Weekday 2 Cor 8:1-9/Mt 5:43-48 

16 Wed Weekday 2 Cor 9:6-11/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 

17 Thu Weekday 2 Cor 11:1-11/Mt 6:7-15 

18 Fri Weekday 2 Cor 11:18, 21-30/Mt 6:19-23 

19 Sat Weekday [Saint Romuald, Abbot; BVM] 2 Cor 12:1-10/Mt 6:24-34 

20 SUN TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jb 38:1, 8-11/2 Cor 5:14-17/Mk 4:35-41 

Green is the liturgy’s color for ordinary time. Not white, the bright light of Eastertime, or red the color of blood and fire. or purple the color of penance. Green is earth’s color, the color of slow growing trees and grasses– of ordinary time.

An unknown 4th century spiritual writer describes the ordinary ways the Holy Spirit works in us. “‘In varied and different ways’ invisible grace leads us. Ordinary time doesn’t mean that every day’s the same.  Sometimes we find ourselves sad at the state of things; sometimes we joyfully hold the whole world in our arms. Sometimes we feel helpless; sometimes we think there’s nothing we can’t do. Sometimes we’re brave; sometimes we escape into the supposed safety of ourselves looking for peace.”

Far from taking us away from the human condition, the Spirit leads us by human steps in human time. Ordinary time is the natural, slow roller-coaster of life; the Spirit leads us on.

The psalms are great prayers for ordinary time. They take you from one human experience to another. If you don’t experience what a certain psalm describes, wait awhile–you will.

Morning and Evening Prayers, Week 3 see

JUNE 12 Mon Weekday 2 Cor 1:1-7/Mt 5:1-12 

13 Tue St Anthony of Padua, Memorial 2 Cor 1:18-22/Mt 5:13-16 

14 Wed Weekday 2 Cor 3:4-11/Mt 5:17-19 

15 Thu Weekday 2 Cor 3:15—4:1, 3-6/Mt 5:20-26 

16 Fri  SACRED HEART OF JESUS Solemnity Dt 7:6-11/1 Jn 4:7-16/Mt 11:25-30 

17 Sat  Immaculate Heart of Mary 2 Cor 5:14-21 (364)/Lk 2:41-51

18 SUN 11th SUNDAY Ex 19:2-6a/Rom 5:6-11/Mt 9:36—10:8 

This week in the lectionary we begin reading for the next two weeks from the 2nd Letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

We’re also reading on weekdays from St. Matthew’s Gospel until the end of August, the Gospel of Mark during the week and begin reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel.

The liturgy broadens our spirituality. Following it each day brings its own treasure, not to be underestimated. The liturgical calendar calls us to explore, not only the various scriptures of the Old and New Testament, but also the gifts we’ve received from other times and places. 

St. Ephrem, named a doctor of the church in 1920, opens up the riches of the Syrian tradition to us. The feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Friday and Saturday) come from the spiritual reaction in 17th century Christian Europe against the cold moralism of Jansenism. 

Ephrem, writer of hymns and commentaries on the liturgy, explains what hidden treasures are found in liturgical prayer:

“Lord, who can comprehend even one of your words. We lose more of it than we can grasp, like those drinking from running waters. God’s word offers different facets, according to the listener; the Lord offers his word in many different colors. Whoever gazes on it, sees what he’s meant to see. Within are hidden many different treasures; those seeking find what makes them rich. 

The word of God is a tree of life that offers blessed fruit from each of its branches.  It is like that rock struck in the wilderness from which all drank. As the apostles says, ‘They all ate spiritual food and they all drank.’” (Commentary on the Diatesseron)  

Morning and Evening Prayer, Week 2

     

MAY 31 Mon The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast

Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16/Lk 1:39-56 

JUNE 1 Tue Saint Justin, Martyr (Ninth Week in Ordinary Time)

Memorial Tb 2:9-14/Mk 12:13-17

2 Wed Weekday [Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs]

Tb 3:1-11a, 16-17a/Mk 12:18-27 

3 Thu Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs Memorial

Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a/Mk 12:28-34

4 Fri Weekday Tb 11:5-17/Mk 12:35-37 

5 Sat Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr Memorial Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20/Mk 12:38-44 

6 SUN THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (Corpus Christi) Solemnity

Ex 24:3-8/Heb 9:11-15/Mk 14:12-16, 22-26 

A feast of Mary occurs every month in the calendar. This month it’s the Visitation (May 31), placed between the Feast of the Annunciation (March 15) and the Birth of John the Baptist (June 24) Mary brings good news to her older cousin Elizabeth, who will give birth to John. Mary always brings the Good News of her Son to us too.Three years ago, we dedicated our Mary Garden.

The memorials in the calendar signify important saints for remembrance. Charles Lwanga and Companions, June 3rd, recall the spread of the gospel to Japan;  Boniface, June 5th, recalls the gospel reaching the Germanic peoples. The Martyr Justin, June 1st, is remembered for introducing the gospel to the philosophers of the Roman world. 

The Book of Tobit is our first reading most of the week. Listen as this good man wrestles with the challenge of exile, blindness and the fears that come from personal loss. In the distance, rescue waits. Great story.

Morning and Evening Prayers: http://www.praydaybyday.org. Week 1