Saturday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Thes 4:9-11
Brothers and sisters: On the subject of fraternal charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 (R.9)
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm. R.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy. R.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity. 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. Pammachius (†410). Roman senator and close friend of St. Jerome. As a widower, he devoted himself to a life of piety and works of charity.
Blessed Eustachius van Lieshout, priest (†1943). A priest of Dutch origin belonging to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Brazil. He was favoured with the gift of healing and acquired a reputation for sanctity during his life.
St. Margaret Ward, virgin, martyr (+1588). She was arrested during the reign of Elizabeth I for helping a priest escape from prison, but refused under torture to reveal his hiding place or to renounce her Faith. She was executed in London.
Blessed Maria Rafols, virgin (†1853). Through many hardships, with wisdom and holy zeal she guided the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne, which she had founded in Zaragoza, Spain.
Blessed John Juvenal Ancina, bishop (†1604). Young doctor who entered the Congregation of the Oratory and stood out as a preacher in Naples, Italy; he was named Bishop of Saluzzo.
St. Fiacre, hermit (†c. 670). Native of Ireland, he settled in a solitary place in France where he built a cell and an oratory dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The multitudes that flocked there seeking his aid eventually gave rise to the village of Saint-Fiacre.
St. Bononius, abbot (†1026). He lived a hermetic life in Egypt and on Mount Sinai. Upon returning to Italy, he was appointed abbot of Lucedio.
Blessed Alfred Ildefonso Schuster, bishop (†1954). Benedictine monk, he was abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, and later Archbishop of Milan.
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