Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Dn 9:4b-10
“Lord, great and awesome God, You who keep Your merciful covenant toward those who love You and observe Your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from Your commandments and Your laws. We have not obeyed Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land. Justice, O Lord, is on Your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which You have scattered them because of their treachery toward You. O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against You. But Yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against You and paid no heed to Your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law You gave us through Your servants the prophets.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13 (R. see 103:10a)
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may Your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low. R.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of Your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for Your name’s sake. R.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before You;
with Your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, Your people and the sheep of Your pasture,
will give thanks to You forever;
through all generations we will declare Your praise. R.
Gospel – Lk 6:36-38
Jesus said to His disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
Featured Saints
St. Paula of St. Joseph Calasanz, virgin (†1889). Endowed with an extraordinary charism for education, she adopted the motto: Piety and Learning. She founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Sisters of the Pious Schools in Barcelona, Spain.
St. Porphyrius of Gaza, bishop (+421). He was born into a Thessalonian family and he lived as an anchorite in the desert. After being ordained Bishop of Gaza, Palestine, he ordered the demolition of many temples dedicated to idols and was instrumental in the conversion of many pagans to the Faith.
St. Alexander, bishop (†326). A glorious elder, aflame with zeal for the Faith; as Bishop of Alexandria, he excommunicated the priest Arius for becoming corrupted by heresy and refusing divine truth. Afterwards, with 318 fathers, he condemned him in the First Nicene Council.
St. Faustinian, Bishop (†fourth century). Second Bishop of Bologna, Italy. The Church, oppressed by persecution, was strengthened and experienced growth because of his preaching.
St. Victor, hermit (†seventh century). Praised in the sermons of St. Bernard, he died in Arcis-surAube, France, where he had led a life of prayer and contemplation.
Blessed Robert Drury, priest and martyr (†1607). Falsely accused of conspiracy against King James I, he suffered death by hanging at Tyburn, England.
Blessed Piety of the Cross Ortiz Real, virgin (†1916). She founded the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Alcantarilla, Spain, for the formation and religious instruction of poor children.
Image gallery
