Memorial of St. 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 Thes 2:9-13
You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory. And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab (R.1)
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. R.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast. R.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light”–
For you darkness itself is not dark,
and night shines as the day. R.
Gospel – Mt 23:27-326
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
Featured Saints
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.
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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