Thursday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. He headed the church in Sebaste (present-day Turkey), and was put to death for his Faith c. 320. During his life he became renowned as a miraculous healer, and is revered particularly as a protector against maladies of the throat. On this day, the faithful can receive the Blessing of the Throats through his intercession.
See also:
- Sacramentals
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12/h5
When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: “I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees
as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, and the Lord may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, ‘If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.’”
David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David, with his sovereignty firmly established.
Responsorial Psalm – 1 Chronicles 29:10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd (R.12b)
R. Lord, You are exalted over all.
“Blessed may You be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.” R.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.” R.
“LORD, You are exalted over all.
Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from You.” R.
“In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.” R.
Gospel – Mk 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Other featured Saints
St. Ansgar (†865). Optional Memorial. Bishop of Hamburg-Bremen who became known as the “Apostle of the North”, being named as the papal legate of Pope Gregory IV to the Scandinavian countries.
Blessed John Nelson, priest and martyr (†1578). Jesuit priest executed at Tyburn for refusing to acknowledge Queen Elizabeth I of England as a spiritual power.
St. Werburga, abbess (†c. 700). She entered the monastery of Ely, England, where she was abbess, later reforming and founding several other monasteries. She is the patroness of the city of Chester, where her relics are venerated.
St. Mary of St. Ignatius Thévenet, virgin (†1837). She founded the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary in Lyon, France.
Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier, virgin (†1838). Founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary during the French Revolution.
Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk, virgin (†1900). With St. Arnold Janssen, she founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters-Servants of the Holy Spirit in Steyl, Netherlands. After her tenure as superior, she dedicated herself to Perpetual Adoration.
Photo gallery
