Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Chateau de Sales in the Kingdom of Savoy near Geneva, Switzerland, in the year 1567. Initially coadjutor Bishop of Annecy, he was appointed Bishop of Geneva during a time of great religious upheaval in Europe. He is the founder of the Visitation order, together with his spiritual daughter, St. Jane Frances de Chantal. A zealous pastor and excellent director of souls, he became known as the saint of sweetness and humility. He wrote various books, the most famous being the Introduction to the Devout Life.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Heb 10:1-10
Brothers and sisters: Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of them, it can never make perfect those who come to worship by the same sacrifices that they offer continually each year. Otherwise, would not the sacrifices have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have had any consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is only a yearly remembrance of sins, for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. For this reason, when He came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, As is written of Me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do Your will, O God. First He says, Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings, You neither desired nor delighted in. These are offered according to the law. Then He says, Behold, I come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 40:2 and 4ab, 7-8a, 10, 11 (R. 8a and 9a)
R. Here am I Lord; I come to do Your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God. R.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.” R.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. R.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly. R.
Gospel – Mk 3:31-35
The mother of Jesus and His brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called Him. A crowd seated around Him told Him, “Your mother and Your brothers and Your sisters are outside asking for You.” But He said to them in reply, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
Featured Saints
St. Babylas, bishop and martyr (†250). Put to death in Antioch of Syria, present-day Turkey, during the persecution of Emperor Decius, together with three youths whom he instructed in the Faith.
St. Felician of Foligno, bishop (†third century). He evangelized a vast area of Umbria, Italy, and was the first bishop of that region for fifty-six years.
Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, priest (†1948). Religious of the Society of St. Paul, he formed many disciples to proclaim the Gospel through social communications media.
Blesseds Vincent Lewoniuk and twelve companions, martyrs (†1874). Laity from Pratulin, Poland; they were shot to death by Russian troops of the Czar for refusing to renounce the Catholic Church.
Blessed Marie Poussepin, virgin (†1744). Dominican tertiary; founded the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin in Sainville, France.
Blessed Paola Gambara-Costa, widow (†1515). Franciscan tertiary from Binasco, Italy, she patiently endured abuse from her husband, leading him to conversion.
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