Mass Readings

First Reading – 1 Jn 5:14-21

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 (R. see 11)

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.R.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.R.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save. R.

Gospel – Mk 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

Featured Saints

In Canada, Memorial of: St. André Bessette, religious (†1937). 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. 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.

Image gallery

St. Raymond of Penyafort

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