Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
St. Camillus de Lellis, priest (†1614 Rome). Of distinguished birth, he followed a military career, and led a dissolute life. After his conversion, he founded the Order of Clerics Regular, Servants of the Sick (now known as the Camillians). Patron of hospitals. (Commemorated July 18 in USA)
In USA: Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world’s inhabitants learn justice. O LORD, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. O LORD, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising. As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we in your presence, O LORD. We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind; Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth. But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust. For your dew is a dew of light, and the land of shades gives birth.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 102:13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21 (R.20b)
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
You, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity. R.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer. R.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.” R.
Gospel – Mt 11:28-30
Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Featured Saints
St. Francis Solano, priest (†1610). Spanish Franciscan missionary who traveled across America from Peru to Argentina, converting indigenous people and colonizers.
St. Marchelm, priest and monk (†circa 775). Of Anglo-Saxon origin, he was a disciple and companion of St. Willibrord from his youth. He died on mission at Deventer, Holland.
St. Toscana, widow (†1343/1344). After the death of her spouse, she gave her goods to the poor and served the sick in the hospital of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Verona, Italy.
Blessed Michael Ghebre, priest and martyr (†1855). Formerly a Monophysist monk of Ethiopia; he converted to Catholicism and entered the Congregation of the Mission. In the persecution of the ruler Theodore II, (of Ethiopia) he suffered thirteen months of torments, and in view of his refusal to renounce his Faith, he was finally left to die of hunger and thirst.
Blessed Caspar de Bono, priest (†1604). He left a military career to give himself to God in the Order of Minims; he died as Provincial in Valencia, Spain.
Blessed Angelina di Marsciano, religious (†1435). Lived the fifty years of her widowhood exclusively at the service of God. She founded the cloistered Third Order Franciscans, for the formation of girls.
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