The living spirit and liturgical calendar

Let the manner of your life be adorned by chastity, sobriety, and moderation… As to worldly riches, if you do not possess them, do not seek them by doing evil on earth, and if you possess them, let them by good works be laid up in heaven. The manly and Christian spirit should neither be elated by the acquisition of this world’s treasures nor crushed by their loss. Rather, let us think of what the Lord says: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

ST AUGUSTINE
FROM WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS (CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY, 2017)

Whatever will remain of life, at the doorstep of eternity, is not what we gained but what we gave away. The meaning of life is found in our response to God’s offer of love. And the response is made up of true love, self-giving and service. Serving others involved a cost, since it involves spending ourselves, letting ourselves be consumed.

POPE FRANCIS
FROM CUSTODIANS OF WONDER: DAILY POPE FRANCIS, EDITED BY JOSEPH HALLDORF (SILENTIUM, 2023)

I think, if I may be very frank, that you should disabuse your mind completely of the idea that an action or a way of life loses its supernatural value because it is a means to your livelihood, because you are paid. The idea that only unpaid work is real charity (love) is simply a snobbish idea that grew fat under the Victorian worldliness; it is not the Catholic idea. To start with, the idea that everyone should work, and that their work, which ought to occupy most of their life and all their best energy and ability, should be in itself the chief means by which they give glory to God – that means that their whole-time job should be their holiest and most charitable self-offering. If they are not able to find work that fulfils that ideal, they are crippled all their life long.

CARYLL HOUSELANDER
FROM ESSENTIAL WRITINGS, EDITED BY WENDY M. WRIGHT (ORBIS, 2005)

CALENDAR

Sunday 24 November:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Year B)

Monday 25 November:
Feria or St Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr

Tuesday 26 November:
Feria

Wednesday 27 November:
Feria

Thursday 28 November:
Feria

Friday 29 November:
Feria

Saturday 30 November:
St Andrew, Apostle, Patron of Scotland

Sunday 1 December:
First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

For the calendar for the Missal of 1962 go to lms.org.uk