The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Joachim and St. Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10
Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17
Matthew 13:1-9

From The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom *

I place before my inward eyes myself, with it all that I am -
My body, soul, and all my powers - and I gather round me
All the creatures which God ever created in heaven, on earth,
And in it the elements, each one severally with its name,
Whether birds of the air, beasts of the forest, fishes of the waters,
Leaves and grass of the earth, or the innumerable sands of the sea.

And to these I add it the little specks of dust which glance
In the sunbeams, with all the little drops of water which ever fell
Or are falling from dew, snow, or rain, and I wish that each of these
Had a sweetly sounding stringed instrument, fashioned from my heart's
Inmost blood, striking on which they might each send up to
Our dear and gentle God a new and lofty strain of praise for ever and ever.

And then the loving arms of my soul stretch out and extend themselves
Towards the innumerable multitude of all creatures, and my intention is,
Just as a free and blithesome leader of a choir stirs up the singers
Of his company, even so to turn them it to good account by inciting them to
Sing joyously, and to offer up their hearts to God - Sursum corda.

- written by Blessed Henry Suso O.P. (1295-1366)

* Editor's note: This reflection was forwarded to me on the occasion of the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne in 1993 by Deacon Kevin Quinn, shortly before his death. (RIP)