Thursday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is transferred to Sunday in most dioceses.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12
Beloved: Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Responsorial Psalm – PS 100:2, 3, 4, 5 (R.2c)
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song. R.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends. R.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him;
bless his name. R.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. R.
Gospel – Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Featured Saints
St. Joan of Arc, virgin (†1431). After having valiantly fought in defence of her country in answer to God’s call, she was handed over to her enemies, condemned in an iniquitous trial and burned alive. See also: Faith Always Wins the Final Victory
St. Ferdinand III, king (†1252). King of Castile and Leon, he was a wise administrator of his kingdom, promoter of the arts and sciences, and an ardent propagator of the Faith.
St. Luke Kirby, priest and martyr (†1582). After undergoing torture, he was hanged at Tyburn in London, during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Blessed William Scott, priest and martyr (†1612). Born into an Anglican family, he converted to Catholicism and became a Benedictine. He was martyred during the reign of James I of England for exercising his priestly ministry.
St. Joseph Marello, bishop (†1895). Bishop of Acqui, in Piedmont, Italy, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates ofSt. Joseph.
St. Mattias Kalemba, martyr (†1886). Known as Mulumba the Strong, in Kampala, Uganda, he abandoned the Muslim religion, was baptized, renounced the office of judge and dedicated himself to spreading the Faith, for which he was tortured and killed by order of the king, Mwanga.
Sts. Basil and Emilia (†349 and 372). Married couple of outstanding virtue who taught the way of perfection to their ten children, four of whom are honoured as saints: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Macrina and St. Peter of Sebaste.
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