Daybreak

Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Sharbel Makhlouf, 1828-1898; joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon, at the age of 23; lived as a hermit from 1875 until his death; with a reputation for holiness, people sought him to receive a blessing and to be remembered in his prayers; he followed a strict fast and was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament; he occasionally administered the sacraments to nearby villages; died late afternoon, Christmas eve, 1898 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/24/24 Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9