Today, June 19
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Born into a family of the dukes of Ravenna about the year 950, Romuald founded the Camaldolese Benedictines around 1012. The new congregation combined monastic community life with the solitary life of hermits. Romuald practised great austerity as a monk and travelled about Italy founding hermitages and monasteries, giving wise counsel to those who sought him out. He died on this day in 1027.©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
2nd book of Kings 11,1-4.9-18.20.
When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king's son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David's spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king's behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king's son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, "Long live the king!" Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD. When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, she tore her garments and cried out, "Treason, treason!" Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force: "Bring her outside through the ranks. If anyone follows her," he added, "let him die by the sword." He had given orders that she should not be slain in the temple of the LORD. She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace, where she was put to death. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD'S people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. After appointing a detachment for the temple of the LORD, Jehoiada All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the royal palace.
Psalms 132(131),11.12.13-14.17-18.
The LORD swore to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: "Your own offspring I will set upon your throne." "If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne." For the LORD has chosen Zion; He prefers her for his dwelling. "Zion is my resting place forever; In her will I dwell, for I prefer her." "In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for my anointed. his enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my crown shall shine."
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6,19-23.
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be."
Daily Reflection
The intensity of our faith should animate our least actions. If we apply ourselves to this, our life will be full of light and joy. The tiniest details of the day will appear to us as precious pearls which we want to gain, that with them we may compose our heavenly treasure. And in the measure that we advance in faith, in the measure that it becomes firmer, more ardent, more active, joy will more and more superabound in our souls. Light is added to light, hope, beholding its horizons widening, is strengthened day by day ; love, feeling itself more ardent, makes everything easy; we run in the path of the Lord's commands. In Heaven the source of our joy will be the certain, perfect and inamissible possession of sovereign and immutable good, in the full light of glory ; here below, the source of our joy is the possession, already begun, of God, the anticipated union with God : this possession, this union is so much the more intimate the more we are bathed in the light of faith. The joy that faith gains for us is necessary here upon earth. God Himself fashioned our hearts, and He has fashioned them in such a way that they have need of gladness.