Memorial of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr
St. Agnes (†circa 304). From a Roman noble family, she suffered martyrdom for her Faith in at the age of twelve, subjected to terrible torments and finally beheaded.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Heb 6:10-20
Brothers and sisters: God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises. When God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, and said, I will indeed bless you and multiply you. And so, after patient waiting, Abraham obtained the promise. Now, men swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument. So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c (R.5)
R.R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights. R.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant. R.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever. R.
Gospel – Mark 2:23-28
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Featured Saints
St. Epiphanius, bishop (†496). During the barbarian invasions, he worked untiringly for the reconciliation of the people, for the redemption of captives and the reconstruction of the city of Pavia, where he died.
St. Alban Roe and Blessed Thomas Green, priests and martyrs (†1642). Imprisoned for exercising the priestly ministry in England, they were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn, after several years in prison, during the reign of Charles I.
St. John Yi Yun-il, martyr (†1867). Father of a family and catechist, tortured and beheaded in Korea.
Blesseds Edward Stransham and Nicholas Wheeler, priests and martyrs (†1586). Executed at Tyburn in London, England, for being priests and for exercising their ministry among the faithful.
Blesseds John Baptist Turpin du Cormier and thirteen companions, priests and martyrs (†1794). Guillotined during the French Revolution in Laval, for their fidelity to the Catholic Faith.
Blessed Josepha Mary of St. Agnes, virgin (†1696). Discalced Augustinian religious from the Convent of Beniganim, Spain, she was favoured with the gift of counsel.
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