Thursday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Angela Merici, virgin, virgin. Optional Memorial. She founded the Ursulines, which was the first first religious community of women dedicated to the education of poor and orphaned girls. She died in Brescia, five years after founding the congregation, in 1540.
St. Henry de Osso y Cervello, priest (†1896). Priest of the Diocese of Tortosa, Spain, founder of the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus, for the formation of youth.
St. Vitalian, Pope (†672). He was especially zealous in promoting the evangelization of the Anglos, sending St. Theodore and his companions on mission to Canterbury.
St. Julian of Le Mans, bishop (†third century). According to tradition, he was of noble Roman birth, and was the first to govern the Diocese of Le Mans, France.
St. Gilduin, bishop (†1077). Elected bishop at a young age, he received a dispensation from this office from Pope Gregory VII, for having alleged his unworthiness; and ended his days in the region of Chartres, France.
St. John Mary Muzei, martyr (†1887). Servant of the king of Uganda, who, having converted to Christianity, chose not to flee the persecution, but spontaneously declared his Faith, for which he was beheaded.
Blessed George Matulaitis, bishop (†1927). Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania), appointed Apostolic Nuncio for this country. He founded the Congregation of the Marian Clerics and Poor Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
Blessed Rosalie du Verdier de la Sorinière, virgin and martyr (†1794). Religious from the Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Our Lady of Calvary, guillotined in Angers during the French Revolution.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29
After Nathan had spoken to King David,
the king went in and sat before the LORD and said,
“Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house,
that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD;
you have also spoken of the house of your servant
for a long time to come:
this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD!
“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever,
and you, LORD, have become their God.
And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made
concerning your servant and his house,
and do as you have promised.
Your name will be forever great, when men say,
‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’
and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel,
who said in a revelation to your servant,
‘I will build a house for you.’
Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth;
you have made this generous promise to your servant.
Do, then, bless the house of your servant
that it may be before you forever;
for you, Lord GOD, have promised,
and by your blessing the house of your servant
shall be blessed forever.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14 (R. Lk 1:32b)
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
LORD, remember David
and all his anxious care;
How he swore an oath to the LORD,
vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob. R.
“I will not enter the house where I live,
nor lie on the couch where I sleep;
I will give my eyes no sleep,
my eyelids no rest,
Till I find a home for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” R.
The LORD swore an oath to David
a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
“Your own offspring
I will set upon your throne.” R.
“If your sons keep my covenant,
and the decrees which I shall teach them,
Their sons, too, forever
shall sit upon your throne.” R.
For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he prefers her for his dwelling:
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her I will dwell, for I prefer her.” R.
Gospel – Mk 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
