Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, which commemorated the first apparition of the Immaculate Virgin to St. Bernadette Soubirous in the Grotto of Massabielle, France in 1858.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam left Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. The two were alone in the area, and the prophet was wearing a new cloak. Ahijah took off his new cloak, tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam: “Take ten pieces for yourself; the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp and will give you ten of the tribes. One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant, and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’” Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
Responsorial Psalm – 81:10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15 (R.11a and 9a)
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.” R.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.” R.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.” R.
Gospel – Mk 7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Featured Saints
St. Gregory II, Pope (†731). In the time of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian, he defended the cult of sacred images and sent St. Boniface to preach the Gospel in Germania.
St. Paschal I, Pope (†824). He promoted the first missions in Scandinavian countries and transferred many relics of the
martyrs from the catacombs to the churches. He rebuilt the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Rome.
St. Peter Maldonado, priest and martyr (†1937). Arrested while hearing Confessions on Ash Wednesday, he was barbarously killed in Chihuahua, Mexico.
St. Soteris, virgin and martyr (†c. 304). Choosing the Faith to nobility of blood and human honour, she refused to obey the order to sacrifice to idols, boldly facing insults, condemnation and death by sword. Her tomb can be found in Rome.
Blessed Tobias Borras Romeu, martyr (†1937). Religious from the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God. He was a model of virtue. Martyred during the Spanish Civil War.
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