Tuesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), virgin and martyr (†1942 Auschwitz – Poland). Of Jewish origin, she embraced the Catholic Faith in 1921 and became a Carmelite nun in 1933. In 1942, she was imprisoned in the extermination camp of Auschwitz, where she died in the gas chamber.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ez 2:8—3:4
The Lord GOD said to me: As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you: be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you. It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe! He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 (R.103a)
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches. R.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors. R.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R.
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! R.
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are. R.
I gasp with open mouth,
in my yearning for your commands. R.
Gospel – Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Richard Bere, priest and martyr (†1537). Carthusian monk starved to death in prison, during the reign of Henry VIII in England.
Blessed Falco, hermit (†tenth/ eleventh century). Born of a noble family of Calabria, Italy, he embraced monastic life with the Basilians.
Blessed Florentino Asensio Barroso, bishop and martyr (†1936). He was arrested and shot during the Spanish Civil War, a short time after taking possession of the Diocese of Barbastro.
St. Marianne Cope, virgin (†1918). German-born American, member of the Sisters of St. Francis. She dedicated herself with great generosity to the care of the lepers on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, succeeding St. Damien de Veuster in this mission.
Blessed John of Salerno, priest (†c. 1242). Dominican priest, founder of the Convent of Santa Maria Novella, in Florence, Italy. He courageously fought the Patarine heretics.
Blessed Claude Richard, priest and martyr (†1794). Benedictine priest imprisoned in Rochefort during the French Revolution; he died of an illness contracted there.
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