Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest
St. John Bosco, priest. Born in Castelnuovo d’Asti on August 16 of 1815, St. John Bosco received a solid Christian formation from his mother. He dedicated his priestly life to the formation of youth, founding two congregations for this purpose: the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesian Fathers) and, together with St. Maria Mazzarello, the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. A prolific writer of catechetical and apologetic works, his “Catholic Readings” spread throughout Italy. He died in 1888.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – 2 Sam12:1-7a, 10-17
The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, Nathan said: “Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him. Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.” David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death! He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 (12a)
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. R.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you. R.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. R.
Gospel – Mk 4:35-34
On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Featured Saints
St. Abraham, bishop and martyr (†345). Bishop of Arbela (Assyria), he was beheaded for refusing to obey the king’s order to adore the sun.
St. Francis Xavier Maria Bianchi, priest (†1815). Barnabite priest, proclaimed Apostle of Naples by Pope Leo XIII. He combined academic life with contemplation and works of charity.
St. Eusebius, religious (†884). Irish monk from the Benedictine Monastery of St. Gall, in Switzerland; he withdrew to Mount St. Victor in Vorarlberg, Austria, where he lived as a hermit for thirty years.
St. Metranus, martyr (†c. 249). For refusing to utter impious words, he was tortured and stoned by pagans in Alexandria, Egypt.
St. Marcella, widow (†410). St. Jerome attests of this Roman lady that, after despising her wealth and honours, she became even nobler through poverty and humility.
Blessed Candelaria of St. Joseph, virgin (†1940). She founded the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Mother Candelaria in Altagracia de Orituco, Venezuela.
Blessed Louisa Albertoni, widow (†1533). After the death of her husband, she became a Franciscan tertiary and dedicated herself to works of charity, ministering to the poor in her own mansion.
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