Mass Readings

First Reading – Jas 2:1-9

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person with shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that he promised to those who love him? But you dishonored the poor. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you? However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Responsorial Psalm – 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R.7a)

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad. R.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears. R.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him. R.

Gospel – Mk 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Featured Saints

Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. Seven laymen from Florence withdrew to Mount Senario (1233), dedicating themselves to a contemplative life. The later founded the Order of the Servants of Mary. (See featured image: The Blessed Virgin clothes the Holy Servite Founders with the Scapular.)

St. Bonosus, Bishop (†c. 373). As Bishop of Trier, Germany, together with St. Hilary of Poitiers, he strove to maintain the integrity of the Faith in Gaul.

St. Flavian, Bishop (†449). Elected to the patriarchal See of Constantinople, he ended the controversy provoked by Nestorianism and, some years later, condemned the Monophysite heresy. He suffered severe persecution from Emperor Theodosius II.

St. Fintan, abbot (†c. 440). Founded the monastery of Cluain-Ednech in Ireland, and stood out for his austerity.

St.­ Evermod,­ bishop (†1178). Premonstratensian monk, disciple of St. Norbert, sent to Germany as a missionary. Elected Bishop of Ratzeburg, he evangelized the Wends, established on the banks of the Vistula.

St. Mesrob, monk (†c. 440). Evangelizer of the Armenians and disciple of St. Nerses, he created an alphabet to teach SacredScripture; he translated the Old and New Testament, and composed hymns and songs in the Armenian language.

St. Peter Yu Chŏng-nyul, martyr (†1866). Father of a family and catechist who was flogged to death in Pyongyang, during anti-Catholic persecution in Korea.

Blessed Luke Belludi, priest (†1286). From an noble Italian family and possessing great culture, he became a franciscan at the age of 25. He was a faithful disciple and companion of St. Anthony of Padua.

Blessed Anthony Leszczewicz, priest and martyr (†1943). Religious from the Congregation of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception; killed for the Faith in Rzeszów, Poland.