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.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Sir 48:1-4, 9-11
In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19 (R.4)
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power. R.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong. R.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. R.
Gospel – Mt 17:9a, 10-13
As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
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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