October 6, 2026
Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
or Optional Memorial of Saint Bruno, Priest
Gospel: Luke 10:38–42

Today is Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of Saint Bruno, Priest. According to the recently published Missal: Saint Bruno (c. 1035–1101), founder of the Carthusian Order, was born in Cologne and taught theology for about twenty years at Rheims (France). In 1084, he retired with six companions into the mountains near Grenoble (France) and founded the strict monastery of the Grande Chartreuse. Saint Bruno was summoned to Rome by his former pupil, Blessed Urban II, and while working for the Pope founded further monasteries in Italy.

Today, the passage from the Holy Gospel according to Luke presents us with the scene of Jesus being welcomed by Mary and Martha in Bethany. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.

We often join with those who, like us, have received the one Baptism of Christ and the one gifts of the Holy Spirit, hastening to the wedding feast of the Kingdom — the assembly of the People of God — the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. When we participate in the Holy Mass, we often, like Mary, sit at the feet of Jesus (Cf. Lk 10:39), listening in the Liturgy of the Word to all that God proclaims to us through His servants. Christ the Lord, rich in mercy, continues to reveal to us the mysteries of the Kingdom through His Church, founded upon Saint Peter (the Rock) (Cf. Mt 16:18–19). When we listen to the Word of God in the Holy Mass, ripples often arise in our hearts, and emotionally, we may become like Martha, feeling various resentments towards our siblings because of their fervor for the Word of God. For we are anxious about everything that belongs to this world, rather than what belongs to God. At times, even when we offer prayers to God, we always ask Him for everything that belongs to this world, instead of conforming to His holy will and seeking from God, according to His good pleasure, all the graces we need.

As Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Cf. Lk 10:41–42) We should not be anxious about everything that belongs to this world, nor should we indulge in the works of the flesh, as Paul taught: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Cf. Gal 5:17–18) For us, through the Baptism of Christ we have received, we have once and for all departed from death. For, “through the baptism we have received, we have been united with Christ, united with His death, and buried with Him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.” (Cf. Rom 6:3–5) Therefore, only by following the Holy Spirit and accepting the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we become children of God. (Cf. Rom 8:14)

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Bruno, Priest. Let us imitate the virtues of the Saint, no longer pursuing worldly pleasures, no longer occupied with earthly things, but setting our minds on heavenly things, worshipping God with one heart, and worthily fulfilling the mission God has entrusted to us.

O God, who called Saint Bruno to serve you in solitude, grant, through his intercession, that amid the changes of this world we may constantly look to you alone. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica