Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, bishop and Doctor of the Church (†1787 Pagani – Italy). Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, he was an apostle of the Eucharist and of the Blessed Virgin. His outstanding zeal for souls, so clear in his preaching, is also revealed in his prolific writings and Moral treatises. He also composed beautiful hymns.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 26:1-9
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD; whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds. Say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city to which all the nations of the earth shall refer when cursing another.Now the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, “You must be put to death! Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD: ‘This house shall be like Shiloh,’ and ‘This city shall be desolate and deserted’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 69:5, 8-10, 14b (R. 14c)
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!
may I be rescued from my foes,
and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,
nor the abyss swallow me up,
nor the pit close its mouth over me. R.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. R.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” R.
Gospel – Mt 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
Featured Saints
St. Aethelwold, bishop (†984). Disciple of St. Dunstan of Canterbury and Bishop of Winchester, he compiled the “Regularis Concordia” for the restoration of monastic observance in England.
Blessed Mary Stella of the Blessed Sacrament, and companions, virgins and martyrs (†1943). The superior of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was shot together with ten nuns of the community in Nowogródek, Belarus.
St. Bernard Vu Van Duê, priest and martyr (†1838). Dominican priest beheaded in Vietnam.
St. Peter Faber, priest (†1546). One of six disciples of St. Ignatius of Loyola who played a role in the founding of the Company of Jesus.
Blessed Thomas Welbourne, martyr (†1605). Lay schoolmaster hanged in York during the reign of James I of England, for encouraging fidelity to the Pope among his students.
Blessed Benvindo de Miguel Arahal, priest and martyr (†1936). Religious of the Capuchin Tertiaries of the Sorrowful Virgin. He was brutally murdered in Madrid during the Spanish Civil War.
Blessed Aleksy Sobaszek, priest and martyr (†1942). Director of Philosophy and Theology at Poznan University, Poland. He was sent to Dachau concentration camp for exercising his priestly ministry after the German invasion.
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