Memorial of Saint Augustine
St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. (†430 Hippo – Algeria). After a youth immersed in sin and doctrinal error, he converted to the true Faith, thanks to the prayers of his mother St. Monica and the influence of St. Ambrose. Following a period of penitence, he was ordained a priest and then a bishop. Among his many works, one of the best known is the book of his Confessions.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. In every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b (R.see 4a)
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory. R.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia! R.
Gospel – Mt 23:13-22
Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of Heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by Heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who is seated on it.”
Featured Saints
St. Joaquina Vedruna, widow (†1854). After raising her nine children in the Faith, she founded the Institute of Carmelite Sisters of Charity in Vic, Spain.
St. Junipero Serra, priest (†1784). Franciscan religious; he founded missions which became cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. (In US, Memorial celebrated July 1.)
St. Alexander, bishop (†c. 336). As Bishop of Constantinople, Commended in the writings of St. Gregory of Nazianzus for having fought courageously in defence of the Faith, under attack from the Arian heresy.
St. Florentina, virgin (†third century). Sister of three Saints: Leander, Fulgentius and Isidore of Seville, she was abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Écija, Spain.
Blessed Alfonso Maria Mazurek, priest and martyr (†1944). Prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Czerna, Poland, brutally tortured and eventually executed by firing squad.
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