Mass Readings

First Reading – Is 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19 (R. 18b)

R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

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.

The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. R.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress He rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit He saves. R.

Gospel – Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to His disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “This is how you are to pray:  Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Featured Saints

St. Hilary, Pope (†468). He wrote letters on the Catholic Faith, by means of which he confirmed the Councils of Nicaea, Ephesus and Chalcedon, making evident the See of Rome’s primacy.

 St. Oswald, bishop (†992). Governed the Church of Worcester and later that of York, in England, instituting the Rule of St. Benedict in several monasteries.

St. Romanus, abbot (†463). Following the example of the ancient anchorites, he lived as a hermit in the region of Jura, France, and became the spiritual father of many monks.

Sts. Marana and Cyra, virgins (†fifth century). They lived in silence in a small enclosure in a secluded location in Berea, Syria, in harsh conditions and receiving food through a window.

Blessed Daniel Brottier, priest (+1936). Born in France, he was sent to the missions in Senegal, but for health reasons was obliged to return to his homeland, where he dedicated himself to the education of orphaned children.

Blessed Timothy Trojanowski, priest and martyr (†1942). Franciscan religious from the convent of Niepokalanów, Poland. He served as editor of the Militia of the Immaculata magazine, founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe. He was arrested during the Second World War and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he died.

Blessed Charles Gnocchi, priest (†1956). He founded the work “Pro Juventute Foundation,” today called the Work of Don Gnocchi, to aid the war maimed and the children of survivors.

Blessed Antonia of Florence, widow (†1472). At the counsel of St. John Capistrano, she founded and governed the first abbess of the Monastery of the Body of Christ, with the observance of the first Rule of St. Clare. She died in L’Aquila, Italy at 71 years of age.