Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Apollinaris, bishop and martyr († c. 79). The Acts of the Apostles record that he was sent by St. Peter as the first Bishop of Ravenna, Italy. He was banished from this See, together with his flock, during the persecution waged by Emperor Vespasian, but was then captured, tortured and put to death by the sword.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ex 3:13-20
Moses, hearing the voice of the LORD from the burning bush, said to Him, “When I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then He added, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you.” God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the children of Israel: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. “This is My name forever; this My title for all generations. “Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and tell them: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt; so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey. “Thus they will heed your message. Then you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him: “The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent us word. Permit us, then, to go a three-days’ journey in the desert, that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD, our God. “Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is forced. I will stretch out my hand, therefore, and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there. After that He will send you away.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 105:1 and 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27 (R.8a)
R.The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke His name;
make known among the nations His deeds.
Recall the wondrous deeds that He has wrought,
His portents, and the judgments He has uttered. R.
He remembers forever His covenant
which He made binding for a thousand generations–
Which He entered into with Abraham
and by His oath to Isaac. R.
He greatly increased His people
and made them stronger than their foes,
Whose hearts He changed, so that they hated His people,
and dealt deceitfully with His servants. R.
He sent Moses His servant;
Aaron, whom He had chosen.
They wrought His signs among them,
and wonders in the land of Ham. 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. Elijah (Elias) the Tishbite. Prophet of the Lord during the reign of Ahab and Ahaziah in Israel; he admonished the Chosen People for their idolatry and challenged the priests of Baal, in the name of the true God. He is considered the founder of the Carmelite Order. See also: The Eliatic Mark and Devotion to Mary
St. Marina of Antioch, virgin and martyr († unknown). She consecrated herself to God upon embracing the Faith in her youth. Brought before the pagan Governor of Antioch, she refused to offer incense to the idols and was subjected to various tortures and finally beheaded.
St. Aurelius of Carthage, bishop (†circa 430). Close friend of St. Augustine, he was elected Bishop of Carthage and preserved his flock from pagan customs.
St. Joseph Barsabbas, disciple of Jesus. He was one of the men proposed by the Apostles, along with St. Matthias, to take the place of Judas.
St. Vulmar, priest (†c. 700). After living a hermitic life for many years as a Benedictine religious in the Abbey of Hautmont, we went on to found a monastery for monks and another for nuns close to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
St. Paul of Cordoba, deacon and martyr (†851). Died for having confessed his Faith in Christ before Moorish authorities.
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