Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Jesus says you cannot have two bosses. Who are the two bosses in this story?

The abbot stood at the monastery gate with his monks around him. He was leaving them. “The death I am destined to die matters little,” he told them, “so long as it allows me to suffer for the love of Christ.” Then St. Ernest of Zwiefalten walked out to join an army.

St. Ernest went with an army. Did he fight?

Put a jar on the counter, drop a coin in, say “God is the boss, not money,” and pray one decade of the Rosary for the Holy Souls.

An old word for money and stuff when they become your boss. Money is fine to use; mammon is money you serve.

Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.

Is it bad to want to be rich?

Jesus, you are our only master. Help us use money and never serve it. Mary, on this Saturday we give you our family. Pray for the souls in Purgatory, especially [names]. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. Amen.

Humble parents raise humble children. As the son of Spanish nobles, St. Dominic had the world at his fingertips. He could have done anything and truly achieved prestige and wealth. Instead, he sought the treasure that does not pass away, which is the kingdom of God (see Matt. 6:19–21). This should come as no surprise, since Dominic’s parents, Félix Guzmán and Bl. Jane of Aza, were God-fearing souls. His mother loved to frequent the nearby Benedictine Abbey, where she would have become well acquainted with the Rule of St. Benedict, which is rooted in humility. In this school of faith and humility, Dominic’s two brothers also became priests. One brother became a canon regular at Santiago and another, Bl. Mannes, later joined the Dominicans. Dominic’s only sister followed in her parents’ footsteps to raise saints. The Guzmán household did not seek to make a name for themselves, but that God’s holy name might be praised and loved throughout the world.

In the first book of Paralipomenon, David offered for the building of the temple three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of silver, and Parian marble in the greatest abundance. And when, moved by the example of the king, princes of the tribes offered five thousand talents of gold, and ten thousand of silver, and eighteen thousand of brass, and a hundred thousand of iron, David said to God, “Thine, O Lord, is magnificence and power and glory and victory; and to Thee is praise, for all that is in Heaven or earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art above all princes. Thine are the riches, and Thine is the glory; Thou hast dominion over all. In Thy hand is power and might; in Thy hand, greatness and the empire of all things. Who am I, what is my people, that we should be able to promise Thee all these things? All things are Thine, and we have given Thee what we have received of Thy hand.”

Tomorrow, Sunday, November 8, is the 32nd Sunday, the parable of the ten virgins, and dinner is by candlelight: have candles, matches, or an oil lamp ready, and the readings turn toward the end of the world for the rest of November. Tomorrow is also the last day of the cemetery-visit indulgence for the Holy Souls. Monday, November 9, is the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica; look up your own parish’s dedication date (the office or the cornerstone will have it). Wednesday, November 11, is Martinmas: paper lanterns need bags or jars and tea lights, so pick them up on the weekend errand.