Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
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 penance, 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 – 2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18
We instruct you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who walks in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 128:1-2, 4-5 (R.1)
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored. R.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life. R.
Gospel – Mt 23:27-32
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. 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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