Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Dn 7:2-14
In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others. The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human mind. The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.” After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard; on its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given. After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength; it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet. I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly. As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up. The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm – Dn 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
R. Give glory and eternal praise to Him!
“Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.” R.
“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever. R.
“You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.” R.
“Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.” R.
“You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.” R.
“All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.” R.
“All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all forever.” R.
Gospel – Lk 21:29-33
Jesus told His disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Featured Saints
St. Edmund Campion, Ralph Sherwin and Alexander Briant, priests and martyrs (†1581). Jesuit religious who suffered martyrdom in England during the reign of Elizabeth I.
St. Eligius (Eloi), bishop (†660). A goldsmith from Limoges, France, and counsellor to King Dagobert I. He entered religious life, was ordained, and founded several monasteries before being elected Bishop of Noyon.
St. Domnolus, bishop (†581). He was abbot of the Monastery of St. Lawrence in Paris, and later Bishop of Le Mans, France. He shone fore his gift of miracles.
St. Nahum, prophet of the Old Testament. In his exhortations, he portrays God as the director of History and Judge of nations.
St. Florence, virgin (†fourth century). A pagan converted to the Faith by St. Hilary of Poitiers during his exile in Asia Minor. She followed him on his return to France and became an anchoress in Comblé.
Blessed Casimiro Sykulski, martyr († 1941). Polish priest, military chaplain in the First World War. He laboured with great dedication in social and apostolic work. For his continuous charitable activity, he was arrested during World War II and taken to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he was shot.
Blessed Maria Clara of the Child Jesus, virgem (†1899). She founded the Franciscan Hospitallers Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Lisbon.
Blessed Liduina Meneguzzi, virgem (†1941). A Sister of St. Francis de Sales from Italy, who worked as a missionary in Ethiopia, where she practised the virtue of Christian charity towards the poor, sick and imprisoned.
Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, virgin and martyr († 1964). Religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, martyred during a bloody persecution in the Republic of Congo.
