Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church. Reformer of the Carmelite order, together with St. Teresa of Avila. A great master of the spiritual life and mystical writer.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 45:6C-8, 18, 21C-25
I am the LORD, there is no other; I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things. Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, The creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other. Who announced this from the beginning and foretold it from of old? Was it not I, the LORD, besides whom there is no other God? There is no just and saving God but Me. Turn to Me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other! By Myself I swear, uttering My just decree and My unalterable word: To Me every knee shall bend; by Me every tongue shall swear, Saying, “Only in the LORD are just deeds and power. Before Him in shame shall come all who vent their anger against Him. In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 85:9AB and 10, 11-12, 13-14 (R. Isaiah 45:8)
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for He proclaims peace to His people.
Near indeed is His salvation to those who fear Him,
glory dwelling in our land. R.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven. R.
The LORD Himself will give His benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before Him,
and salvation, along the way of His steps. R.
Gospel – Lk 7:18B-23
At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; He also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at Me.”
Featured Saints
St. Venantius Fortunatus, bishop (†seventh century). Famous troubador of his epoch, he was inspired by the virtues of Queen St. Radegonde, became a priest and went to Poitiers, where he became bishop. He composed hymns to the Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and wrote the epopees of many saints.
St. Nicasius of Rheims, bishop (†407). He was killed by pagans in the doorway of the basilica he had built in Rheims, France.
St. Nimatullah al-Hardini Kassab, priest (†1858). Religious from the Lebanese Maronite Order, he dedicated himself to theological studies, the formation of youth and other pastoral efforts.
Blessed Bonaventure of Pistoia, priest (†circa 1315). Prior of several monasteries of the Order of the Servants of Mary; he helped St. Philip Benizi quell feuding factions in many Italian cities.
Blessed Frances Schervier, virgin (†1876). Known as the “Mother of the Poor,” she founded the Congregation of theSisters of the Poor of St. Francis in Aachen, Germany.
Sts. Heron, Arsenius, Isidore and Dioscurus, martyrs (†250). Sentenced to death in Alexandria, Egypt, during the persecution of Decius. Seeing the first three suffer various tortures with the same constancy in the Faith, the judge had them thrown into a furnace; St. Dioscurus, only twelve years old, died after being subjected to numerous scourgings.
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