Saturday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Optional memorial of St. Hilary of Poitiers, (†367). Bishop and Doctor of the Church, he fought Arianism, defending the doctrine defined in the Council of Nicea, on the Blessed Trinity and the divinity of Christ.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people. Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals. When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.” Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying: “The LORD anoints you commander over His heritage. You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout. “This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you commander over His heritage.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R.2a)
R. Lord, in Your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in Your strength the king is glad;
in Your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
You refused not the wish of his lips. R.
For You welcomed him with goodly blessings,
You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of You: You gave him
length of days forever and ever. R.
Great is his glory in Your victory;
majesty and splendor You conferred upon him.
For You made him a blessing forever;
You gladdened him with the joy of Your face. R.
Gospel – Mk 2:13-17
Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to Him and He taught them. As He passed by, He saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While He was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many who followed Him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to His disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Featured Saints
St. Remigius, bishop (†c. 533). For more than sixty years he governed the Diocese of Rheims, France. He baptized King Clovis and converted the Franks to Christ.
St. Peter of Capitolias, priest and martyr (†713). For preaching the Christian Faith in the region of Capitolias, Syria, the Saracen governor ordered his tongue, hands and feet to be cut off, after which he was crucified.
St. Godfrey, religious (†1127). Count of Cappenberg, Germany. Attracted by the preaching and sanctity of St. Norbert, he became a Premonstratensian monk.
St. Hermylus and St. Stratonicus, martyr (†310). Stratonicus was the servant of Hermylus, a deacon. After suffering divers torments for their Faith, they were drowned in the Danube, at Belgrade, Serbia
Blessed Veronica Negroni of Binasco, virgin (†1497). Religious of the Augustinian Convent of St. Martha, in Milan, Italy, where she lived as a contemplative.
Blessed Emil Szramek, priest and martyr (†1942). Priest from the Archdiocese of Katowice, Poland, deported to the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany, where he died.
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