Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. On this day in 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, in Aylesford, England, entrusting the brown scapular to him. Under this title, the Carmelites venerate the Mother of God, for it was on Mount Carmel that the Prophet Elijah beheld the small cloud that represented Her. On this Mount the Carmelite Order has its earliest roots, being first constituted by hermits dedicated to contemplation.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 7:1-9
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. The cry of the children of Israel has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He answered, “I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 103:1b-2, 3-4, 6-7 (R. see 8a)
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. R
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel. R
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel. 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. Athenogenes, bishop and martyr (†c. 305). He endured the terrible martyrdom of being burned alive in Sebaste, Armenia, leaving as an inheritance to his flock a hymn to the Holy Spirit.
St. Mary Magdalen Postel, virgin (†1846). During the French Revolution, she used her goods to help the sick and the faithful. After peace was established, she founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mercy in Saint-Sauveur-leVicomte, France.
St. Teresa Zhang Hezhi, martyr (†1900). Executed by lances along with her two sons during the Boxer persecution in China for refusing to adore local divinities.
Blessed Aimée of Jesus de Gordon, virgin, and companions, martyrs (†1794). Having refused to abandon religious life, they were condemned and guillotined in Orange during the French Revolution.
Blessed Ermengard, abbess (†866). Great-granddaughter Charlemagne; while still young, she abandoned the splendours of the court to enter the Monastery of Chiemsee, Bavaria, of which she became abbess.
Blessed Bartholomew of the Martyrs, bishop (†1590). Dominican religious elected Archbishop of Braga, Portugal; he wrote various spiritual and theological works.
Blesseds André de Soveral, priest, and Domingos Carvalho, layman, martyrs (†1645). Massacred by Dutch Calvinist soldiers close to Natal, Brazil, as Fr. André, a Jesuit, was celebrating Mass.
Blesseds John Sugar, priest, and Robert Grissold, layman, martyrs (†1604). Tortured and killed during the reign of James I of England, the first for having exercised the priestly ministry in England, and the second for assisting him.
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