Friday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
Optional memory of St. Angela Merici, virgin, virgin. 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.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Heb 10:32-39
Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what He has promised. For, after just a brief moment, He who is to come shall come; He shall not delay. But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him. We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40 (R. 39a)
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and He will grant you your heart’s requests. R.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in Him, and He will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. R.
By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and He approves his way.
Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,
for the hand of the LORD sustains him. R.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
He is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in Him. R.
Gospel – Mk 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables He did not speak to them, but to His own disciples He explained everything in private.
Featured Saints
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.
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