Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Sir 1:1-10
All wisdom comes from the LORD and with Him it remains forever, and is before all time the sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven’s height, earth’s breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom and her ways are everlasting. To whom has wisdom’s root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties? To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed? And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways? There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon His throne: There is but one, Most High all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one, seated upon His throne and He is the God of dominion. It is the LORD; He created her through the Holy Spirit, has seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all His works, upon every living thing according to His bounty; He has lavished her upon His friends.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 (R. 1a)
R. The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. R.
And He has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting You are, O LORD. R.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, for length of days. R.
Gospel – Mk 9:14-29
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing Him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to Him and greeted Him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to You my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring Him to me.” They brought the boy to Him. And when He saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then He questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When He entered the house, His disciples asked Him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
Featured Saints
Sts. Francisco, (†1919 Aljustrel – Portugal) and Jacinta Marto (†1920 Lisboa), seers of Our Lady of Fatima, in Portugal. Jacinta, the youngest of the three shepherd children to receive the prophetic message of the Blessed Virgin, died at the age of ten after patiently enduring terrible sufferings, offered for the conversion of sinners. Her brother passed away before her, the death of both children having been foretold by Our Lady.
St. Tyrannio, bishop (†311). He was instructed in the Christian Faith since early youth and became Bishop of Tyre. He received the palm of martyrdom in Antioch, Syria.
St. Eleutherius, bishop (†530). As ishop of Tournai (Belgium), he preached against the Arian heresey and died as a result of injuries sustained when a group of enraged Arians accosted and beat him.
St. Eucherius of Orleans, bishop (circa 738). Exiled from Orleans by Charles Martel, after being calumniated by envious adversaries, he found refuge in the monastery of Saint-Trond, Belgium, where he spent the rest of his life in prayer and contemplation.
St. Leo, bishop (†c. 787). Benedictine religious elected Bishop of Catania, Italy. He dedicated himself to the are of the poor and fought against the iconoclasts.
St. Serapion, martyr (†c. 248). After cruel torture he was thrown to his death from a high window of his house, in Alexandria, Egypt, during the time of Emperor Decius.
Blessed Julia Rodzinska, virgin and martyr (+1945). Polish Dominican, dedicated to the education of orphans and homeless. She was imprisoned during the Nazi invasion and sent to a concentration camp, where she died.
Image gallery
