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 – 1 Cor 1:17-25
Brothers and sisters: Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside. Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11 (R.10)
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. R.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. R.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations. R.
Gospel – Mt 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
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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