"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Saturday of the Ninth week in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day:
ST. NORBERT
Bishop
(c.1080-1134)
Bishop
(c.1080-1134)
Of noble rank and rare talents, Norbert passed a most pious youth, and entered the ecclesiastical state. By a strange contradiction, his conduct now became a scandal to his sacred calling, and at the court of the Emperor Henry IV he led, like many clerics of that age, a life of dissipation and luxury.
One day when he was thirty years of age, he was thrown half dead from his horse, and on recovering his senses, resolved upon a new life. After a severe and searching preparation, he wasordained a priest and began to expose the abuses of his Order. Silenced at first by a local council, he obtained the Pope's sanction and preached penance to listening crowds in France and the Netherlands.
In the wild vale of Prémontré he gave some trained disciples the rule of St. Augustine and a white habit to denote the angelic purity proper to the priesthood. The Canons Regular, orPremonstratensians, as they were called, were to unite the active work of the country clergy with the obligations of the monastic life. Their fervor renewed the spirit of the priesthood, quickened the faith of the people, and drove out heresy.
A vile heretic named Tankelin, appeared at Antwerp and denied the reality of the priesthood and especially blasphemed the Blessed Eucharist. The Saint was sent for and by his burning words, exposed the impostor and rekindled faith in the Blessed Sacrament.
Many of the apostates had shown their contempt for the Blessed Sacrament by burying it in filthy places. Norbert bade them to search for the Sacred Hosts. Theyfound them whole and undamaged, and the Saint bore them back in triumph to the tabernacle. Hence he is generally painted with the monstrance in his hand.
Many of the apostates had shown their contempt for the Blessed Sacrament by burying it in filthy places. Norbert bade them to search for the Sacred Hosts. They
In 1126 Norbert found himself appointed Bishop of Magdeburg; and there, at the risk of his life, he zealously carried on his work of reform, and died , worn out with toil, at the age of fifty-three.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saturday of the Ninth week in Ordinary TimeBook of Tobit 12: The angel reveals his identity
12 When the wedding feast was over, Tobit called his son Tobias to him and said, “My child, make sure to give the man who went with you his wages, and give him a bonus as well.”
5 So Tobit called Raphael in and said, “Take as your wages half of everything you had when you came, and go in good health.”
6 Then Raphael spoke to them privately, saying, “Praise God and tell all living beings about the good things he has done for you, praising and singing to his name. Make God’s words known in an honorable way to everyone, and don’t fail to acknowledge him. 7 It’s good to hide a king’s secret from view, and good to reveal God’s works and bear witness to them with due respect.
“Do what’s good, and evil won’t overtake you. 8 Prayer with fasting[a] is good, and so is giving to the poor with righteousness. The possession of a little with righteousness is better than much with injustice.[b] Giving to the poor is better than storing up gold. 9 Giving to the poor saves from death, and it washes away every sin. Those who give to the poor will feel satisfied with life, 10 but those who commit sin and injustice are their own worst enemies.
11 “I will tell you the whole truth, and I will keep nothing secret from you. I have already said to you, ‘It’s good to hide a king’s secret from view, and good to reveal God’s works in an honorable way.’ 12 So when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought the record of your prayer into God’s glorious presence, and likewise when you used to bury the dead, 13 and when you didn’t hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury the corpse. 14 I was sent to test you then, and at the same time God sent me to heal you and Sarah, your son’s bride.[c] 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and who enter the Lord’s glorious presence.”[Footnotes:
Tobit 12:8 OL, LXX1; LXX2 sincerity
Tobit 12:8 LXX1; LXX2 and giving to the poor with righteousness is better than the possession of much with injustice.
Tobit 12:14 Gk your bride]
20 Now praise the Lord here on earth and acknowledge God. Notice that I’m ascending to the one who sent me. So record everything that has happened to you.” Then Raphael ascended.
(Psalm) Book of Tobit 13:2 because he punishes and shows mercy.
He brings people[a] down to the underworld below the earth,
and he himself raises people
up from great destruction.
What is there that escapes
from his hand?[b][Footnotes:
Tobit 13:2 Gk lacks people.
Tobit 13:2 DSS Heb; LXX1,2 nothing will escape his hand.]
6 When you turn to him
with all your heart and your all being
to act sincerely before him,
then he will turn to you and never
hide his face from you again.
And now, look at what
he has done for you,
and acknowledge him
in everything you say.[a]
Praise the Lord of righteousness,
and exalt the king of the ages!
I will acknowledge him in the land where I am a captive
and make known his power
and greatness to a sinful nation.[b]
So turn around, you sinners,
and act justly before him.
Who knows?
Perhaps he will want you back
and show you mercy.
7 My soul exalts my God,
the king of heaven,
and my soul will rejoice
all the days of my life.
8 Praise the Lord, all you chosen ones,
and let everyone
praise his greatness.
Let them speak through psalms,[c]
use your days for rejoicing,
and acknowledge him.[Footnotes:
Tobit 13:6 Gk with your whole mouth
Tobit 13:6 OL; LXX1 to a nation of sinners
Tobit 13:8 DSS Heb; OL omits line.]
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Mark 12:38 As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the kind of Torah-teachers who like to walk around in robes and be greeted deferentially in the marketplaces, 39 who like to have the best seats in the synagogues and take the places of honor at banquets, 40 who like to swallow up widows’ houses while making a show of davvening at great length. Their punishment will be all the worse!”
41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
Saturday of the Ninth week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day:
Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Poem “ Vivo sin vivir en mí ” (©Institute of Carmelite studies)
"She has contributed all "
I live without living in myself, And in such a way, I hope,
I die because I do not die.
Since I die of love,
Living apart from love,
I live now in the Lord,
Who has desired me for himself.
He inscribed on my heart
When I gave it to him:
I die because I do not die...
Ah, how bitter a life
When the Lord is not enjoyed!
While love is sweet,
Long awaiting is not.
O God, take away this burden
Heavier than steel,
I die because I do not die.
Only with that surety
I will die, do I live,
Because in dying
My hope in living is assured.
Death, bringing life,
Do not tarry; I await you,
I die because I do not die.
See how love is strong (Sg 8,6).
Life, do not trouble me.
See how all that remains
Is in losing you to gain.
Come now, sweet death,
Come, dying, swiftly.
I die because I do not die.
That life from above,
That is true life,
Until this life dies,
Life is not enjoyed.
Death, be not aloof;
in dying first, may life be,
I die because I do not die.
Life, what can I give
To my God living in me,
If not to lose you,
Thus to merit him?
In dying I want to reach
Him alone whom I seek:
I die because I do not die.
____________________________
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