Mass Readings

First Reading – Zep 2:3; 3:12-13

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who have observed His law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.  But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD: the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (R. Mt 5: 3)

R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free. R.

The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers. R.

The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked He thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. R.

Second Reading – 1 Cor 1:26-31

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

Gospel – Mt 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain, and after He had sat down, His disciples came to Him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Featured Saints

St. Valerius of Trèves († third century). Bishop Segundo Bishop of Trier, Germany.

St. Sulpicius Severus, bishop (†591). St. Gregory of Tours praised his wisdom, pastoral zeal and dedication in restoring religious observance in the Diocese of Bourges, France.

St. Gildas the Wise, abbot (†570). A learned priest from a noble Scottish family, he entered the famous monastery of Llanilltud Fawr in Wales. He founded the monastery of Rhuys in French Bretagne, of which he was abbot.

St. Aphraates, hermit (†c. 378). Born near Nineveh, in present-day Iraq, he converted to Christianity and went to live as an anchorite in Edessa, Syria.

Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz, priest (†1912). Polish Salesian priest, founder of the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel, dedicated to the education of youth based on the principals of St. John Bosco.

Blessed Boleslava Maria Lament, virgin (†1946). During a time of political turmoil, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family, to promote Christian unity, aid the abandoned, and provide Christian formation for girls.

Blessed Vilana de Botti, mother of a family (†1361). Abandoning the frivolous life she led in Florence, she became a Dominican Tertiary, standing out for constant meditation on Christ Crucified, austerity and charity toward the poor.