Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up. Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt; God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars. If they would say, “We have no king”— Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them? The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters. The high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars. Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall upon us!” “Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R.4b)
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail. R.
Gospel – Mt 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Featured Saints
Seven Holy Brothers (†circa 162) – Sons of St. Felicitas, these seven brothers – Alexander, Felix, Januarius, Marialis, Philip, Silvanus and Vitalis – were martyred in Rome during the persecution waged by Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.
St. Amalburga, virgin (†eighth century). She received the veil of the consecrated virgins from the hands of St. Willibrord and spent the last years of her life in Temse, present-day Belgium. She is known for several miracles, such as crossing the river Scheldt on the back of a sturgeon.
St. Canute IV, martyr (†1086). King of Denmark; he promoted divine worship and the construction of many monasteries and churches. He was assassinated in church by seditious subjects directly after making his Confession.
St. Pascharius, bishop (†seventh century). Bishop of Nantes, France; he founded a monastery to receive St. Hermeland and the monks of Fontanelle, on the Island of Aindre.
St. Peter Vincioli, priest (†1007). Rebuilt the Church of St. Peter in Perugia, Italy, and erected an adjacent monastery where he introduced the discipline of Cluny.
St. Apollonius of Sardis, martyr (+fourth century). Crucified during the religious persecution in Laodicea.
Sts. Rufina and Segunda, virgin martyrs, (circa †257). In Rome, under Emperor Valerian, these two sisters were tortured and put to death for their Faith.
Blessed Manuel Ruiz, priest, and companions, martyrs (†1860). Franciscan priest massacred in his convent in Damascus, along with seven religious and three laymen.
Blessed Maria Gertrude of St. Sophia of Ripert d’Alauzin, virgin and martyr (†1794). Ursuline nun of noble blood guillotined in Orange, France, for refusing to take the anti-religious oath demanded of her.
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