Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (†1153 Langres – France). At age 22, together with a group of 30 other men made up of friends and relatives, he entered the monastery of Citaux. His superior, St. Stephen Harding, later sent him to found a new monastery in Clairvaux, where he brought about the great Cistercian reform, favoured with great growth. He was also influential in convincing his only sister St. Humbeline to abandon the world and embrace religious life. Renowned for his inspired preaching and writing, which earned him the title the Mellifluous Doctor, St. Bernard was a great proponent of Marian piety, and a counselor to kings and Popes.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ez 28:1-10
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are haughty of heart, you say, “A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!”— And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god. Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that is beyond you. By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself; You have put gold and silver into your treasuries. By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches– therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, Therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel. They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea. Will you then say, “I am a god!” when you face your murderers? No, you are man, not a god, handed over to those who will slay you. You shall die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
Responsorial Psalm – Dt 32:26-27AB, 27CD-28, 30, 35CD-36AB (R. 39c)
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
“I would have said, ‘I will make an end of them
and blot out their name from men’s memories,’
Had I not feared the insolence of their enemies,
feared that these foes would mistakenly boast.” R.
“‘Our own hand won the victory;
the LORD had nothing to do with it.’”
For they are a people devoid of reason,
having no understanding. R.
“How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?” R.
Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity. R.
Gospel – Mt 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Maria Climent Mateu, virgin and martyr (†1936). Franciscan tertiary shot to death during the Spanish Civil War
St. Philibert, abbot (†c. 684). Educated at the court of King Dagobert; he became a monk while still an adolescent. He founded and directed the abbeys of Jumièges and Noirmoutier, in France.
St. Bernard Tolomei, abbot (†1348). Founder of the Benedictine Congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto, he went to Siena, Italy, to assist his monks during an epidemic and died from the disease.
Blessed Maria Climent Mateu, virgin and martyr (†1936). Third Order Franciscan dedicated to the lay apostolate, killed by firing squad for her Faith during the Spanish Civil War.
St. Samuel, prophet. Called by God as a child; judge of Israel. He anointed Saul as king, who was unfaithful, and later anointed David, of whose lineage Jesus was born.
St. Maria de Mattias, virgin (†1866). Disciple of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood of Christ in Rome.
St. Maximus, monk (†fifth century). Disciple of St. Martin of Tours and monk in the Abbey of Île-Barbe (in Lyon, France). He founded a monastery near Chinon, where he spent the rest of his life.
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