Memorial of Saint Monica
St. Monica widow.(†387 Ostia – Italy). Mother of St. Augustine, for whose conversion she shed many tears. Through her patience, she also obtained the conversion of the pagan husband. A model Christian mother, she died at the age of fifty, shortly after St. Augustine’s baptism, just as both were departing for Africa.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Cor 1:26-31
Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21 (R.12)
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind. R.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine. R.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust. R.
Gospel – Mt 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”
Featured Saints
St. Guarinus, bishop (†1150). Having been a monk of Molesme during the time of St. Robert, he founded the Aulps Abbey in France, and united it to the Cistercian Order. He was elected Bishop of Sion, Switzerland.
St. David Lewis, priest and martyr (†1679). Jesuit priest who became the last of those martyred in Wales for the Catholic Faith after having clandestinely administered the Sacraments to Catholics in the Hereford-Monmouth region for thirty years.
St. Caesarius, bishop (†542). After living the monastic life on the Island of Lerins, he was appointed Bishop of Arles, France. He wrote a book of sermons as a catechetical aid for priests and drew up rules for monastic discipline.
Blessed Angelo Conti, priest (†1312). Priest of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, who died in Foligno, Italy, he stood out for patience in bearing affronts.
Blessed Maria del Pilar Izquierdo Albero, virgin (†1945). She was blind and paraplegic as the result of a series of infirmities; after a miraculous cure, she founded the Missionary Work of Jesus and Mary in Madrid.
St. Amadeus, bishop (†1159). Abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Hautecombe, France, he was elected Bishop of Lausanne, Switzerland.
St. Poemen, abbot (†fourth-fifth century). An anchorite famous for his wise teachings.
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