Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
St. Henry II, Emperor (†1024 Grone – Germany). Duke of Bavaria and later Holy Roman Emperor. His spouse was St. Cunegundis. He waged many battles in defence of the Church and favoured her growth in his own land as well as beyond its boarders. He was a key figure in the conversion of St. Stephen, King of Hungary.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 10:5-7, 13B-16
Thus says the LORD: Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger, my staff in wrath. Against an impious nation I send him, and against a people under my wrath I order him To seize plunder, carry off loot, and tread them down like the mud of the streets. But this is not what he intends, nor does he have this in mind; Rather, it is in his heart to destroy, to make an end of nations not a few. For he says: “By my own power I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd. I have moved the boundaries of peoples, their treasures I have pillaged, and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned. My hand has seized like a nest the riches of nations; As one takes eggs left alone, so I took in all the earth; No one fluttered a wing, or opened a mouth, or chirped!” Will the axe boast against him who hews with it? Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it? As if a rod could sway him who lifts it, or a staff him who is not wood! Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will send among his fat ones leanness, And instead of his glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire.
Responsorial Psalm – PS 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15 (R.14a)
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Your people, O LORD, they trample down,
your inheritance they afflict.
Widow and stranger they slay,
the fatherless they murder. R.
And they say, “The LORD sees not;
the God of Jacob perceives not.”
Understand, you senseless ones among the people;
and, you fools, when will you be wise? R.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge? R.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it. R.
Gospel – Mt 11:25-27
At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Featured Saints
St. Emmanuel Lê Văn Phung, martyr (†1859). Father of a family, who, while imprisoned, exhorted his children and relatives to show charity toward his persecutors. He was beheaded in Chau Doc, Vietnam.
St. Ezra, priest and author, who upon his return from exile in Babylonia, gathered the dispersed Hebrew people and dedicated himself to putting the Law of the Lord into practice in Israel.
St. Silas († 1st century). Sent by the Apostles to preach to the Gentiles, together with Sts. Paul and Barnaby.
St. Clelia Barbieri, virgin (†1870). Ardent devotee of the Eucharist, she founded the Minim Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, dedicated to providing religious instruction for girls from poor families. She is the patroness of catechists.
Blessed Ferdinand Mary Baccilieri, priest (†1893). Founded the Congregation of the Servants of Mary in Galeazza, Italy, to minister to needy families and promote the education of youth.
Blessed Thomas Tunstall, priest and martyr (†1616). Benedictine priest condemned to death during the anti-Catholic persecution waged during the reign of King James I of England.
Blessed Mariano of Jesus Euse Hoyos, priest (†1926). Diocesan priest who died in Angostura, Colombia. His holy life was one of dedication to prayer, study and the Christian education of children.
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