Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, martyrs (†303). Syrian physicians martyred in Syrrhus, Syria. They practised medicine for charity, free of charge. (Celebrated September 25 in Canada).
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eccl 1:2-11
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17BC (R.1)
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night. R.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades. R.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants! R.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands! R.
Gospel – Lk 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.
Featured Saints
In Canada: Feast of Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, martyrs. (Celebrated on October 19 in the General Calendar) Eight Jesuit missionaries from France who evangelized among the native peoples of North America, particularly of the Huron tribe, and were captured, tortured and killed by the Iroquois on various dates over a seven-year period.
St. Gideon, judge of Israel. From the tribe of Manasseh, he delivered the chosen people from the Midianites.
St. Eusebius of Bologna, bishop (†fourth century). He fought Arianism with St. Ambrose of Milan, and strove to promote the value of virginity among youth.
St. Nilus, abbot (†1005). Born to an eminent family of Rossano, Italy, he renounced the world, and embraced the monastic life, living at several different monasteries, and times as a hermit. He founded the monastery of Grottaferrata, where he established a school of calligraphy for the copying of sacred texts.
St. Terese Couderc, virgin (†1885). Foundress of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle in Lalouvesc, France.
Blessed Kaspar Stangassinger, priest (†1899). Redemptorist priest, dedicated to the education of youth. He died at the age of 28, in Gars, Germany, where he was director of the minor seminary.
Blessed Luigi Tezza, priest (†1923). Founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Camillus in Rome. He died on mission in Peru.
Blessed Lucy of Caltagirone,virgin (†1400). Franciscan tertiary who died in Salerno, Italy. She stood out for her fidelity to the Rule and devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ.
Sts. Lucy Kim, and Catherine Yi, widows, and Magdalena Cho, virgin, martyrs (†1839). For their faith in Christ, they died victims of terrible torments in Seul, Korea.
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