Monday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Sam 1:1-8
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, Elkanah by name, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city to worship the LORD of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were ministering as priests of the LORD. When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, though the LORD had made her barren. Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach to her that the LORD had left her barren. This went on year after year; each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the LORD, Peninnah would approach her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. Her husband Elkanah used to ask her: “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 116:12-13, 14-17, 18-19 (R. 17a)
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
or:
R. Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD. R
Precious in the eyes of the LOR
is the death of his faithful ones.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds. R
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem. R
Gospel – Mk 1:14-20
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
Featured Saints
St. Marguarite Bourgeoys, virgin (†1700). Memorial in Canada. Born in Troyes, France. As a young woman she felt called to consecrate her life to God and to travel to Canada to evangelize among the native Indians and settlers, where there was great need. In Montreal, she she founded the Sisters of Notre-Dame to carry out this work.
St. Martin of the Holy Cross, priest (†1203). Canon Regular of León, Spain, he was very well versed in Sacred Scripture and celebrated for his ascetical writings.
St. Anthony Maria Pucci, priest (†1892). He entered the Servite Order and until the end of his life he dedicated himself heroically to the salvation of souls as a parish priest in Viaregio (Italy).
St. Benedict Biscop, abbot (†c. 690). He aimed at increasing the knowledge of the science of the love of Christ of the religious of the monastery of Wearmouth, England.
St. Aelred, abbot (†circa 1166). He left the court of the King David of Scotland to enter the Cistercian Order. He became abbot of Revesby and Rielvaux Monasteries.
St. Bernard of Corleone, religious (†1667). After a troubled youth, he became a Capuchin in Caltanisetta, Italy, and an outstanding devotee of the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin.
St. Arcadius, martyr (†circa 304). Died after torture in Caesarea in Mauritania, Algeria, for refusing to sacrifice to idols.
Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, priest and martyr (†1944). Imprisoned during the persecution in Thailand, he died of a contagious disease contracted while aiding the sick in prison.
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