Friday after Epiphany
Featured Saints
St. André Bessette, religious (†1937). Memorial in Canada. Member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, he served as porter at Notre-Dame-des Neiges College in Montreal, Canada. Through his initiative, a world-famous shrine dedicated to St. Joseph was built on an elevation across from the school. His commemoration on the General Calendar is on January 6.
St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest. Born in 1175 in Catalonia, Spain. He was a professor of canon law by the age of 20 and was renowned for his brilliance. Later, at the age of 47 he renounced all worldly honours and entered the Dominican Order, of which he became the third Superior General. Optional Memorial, Celebrated in Canada on the 8th.
St. Cyrus, bishop (†714). Monk of Paphlagonia (northern Turkey), elected Patriarch of Constantinople. Expelled from his See, he died in exile.
St. Canute Lavard, bishop (†1137). Duke of Schleswig in Denmark, he prudently and kindly governed the principality and encouraged public piety. He was assassinated by enemies who were envious of his authority.
St. Lucian, priest and martyr (†312). He applied himself to the study of Scripture and founded the Biblical School of Antioch. He courageously gave his life as a witness to the true Faith during the persecution of Maximinus Daia.
St. Joseph Tuan Van Tran, martyr (†1862). Father of a family; beheaded in Vietnam for refusing to trample a crucifix.
Blessed Matteo Guimerà, bishop (†1451). From the Order of Friars Minor, he was deeply devoted to the adoration and exaltation of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, in Agrigento, Italy.
Blessed Ambrose Fernandez, martyr (†1620). He was admitted into the Company of Jesus in Japan and, after suffering many privations, he died for Christ in prison.
Blessed Marie Thérèse Haze, virgin (†1876). Foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross in Liège, Belgium. She died at 99 years of age.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Jn 5:5-13
Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 (R. cf 12a)
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you. R.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word! R.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia. R.
Gospel – Lk 5:12-16
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;
and when he saw Jesus,
he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
And the leprosy left him immediately.
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The report about him spread all the more,
and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments,
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
