Mass Readings

First Reading – Mi 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, That dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm – PS 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8 (R.8a)

R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

You have favored, O LORD, your land;
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger. R.

Restore us, O God our savior,
and abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us,
prolonging your anger to all generations? R.

Will you not instead give us life;
and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness,
and grant us your salvation. R.

Gospel – Mt 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Featured Saints

St. Macrina, virgin (†379). Sister of Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of Sebaste. Well-versed in Sacred Scripture, she withdrew to lead a solitary life in the monastery of Annesi, in the north of Turkey.

St. Epafras, disciple of St. Paul. Preached the Gospel in Colossus, Laodicea and Gerapolis.

Blessed Achilles Puchala, priest and martyr (†1943). Polish Franciscan friar, tortured and shot by Nazi invaders during the Second World War.

St. Bernold, bishop (†1054). He built many churches and introduced the discipline of Cluny in monasteries, in Utrecht, Holland.

St. John Plessington, priest and martyr (†1679). Condemned to the gallows in Chester, England, for his fidelity to the Catholic Faith and his priestly ministry, during the reign of Charles II.

St. Aurea, virgin and martyr (†856). Summoned before the judges in Cordoba (Spain), she renounced the Christian Faith out of fear, but soon after repented and was martyred.

Blessed Pietro Crisci, penitent (†c. 1323). After distributing his goods to the poor, he dedicated himself to the care of the Cathedral of Foligno, Italy, making his abode in the bell tower.