Saturday 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.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Mi 2:1-5
Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil. On that day a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant: “Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors, The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!” Thus you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14 (R.12b)
R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord!
Why, O LORD, do you stand aloof?
Why hide in times of distress?
Proudly the wicked harass the afflicted,
who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived. R.
For the wicked man glories in his greed,
and the covetous blasphemes, sets the LORD at nought.
The wicked man boasts, “He will not avenge it”;
“There is no God,” sums up his thoughts. R.
His mouth is full of cursing, guile and deceit;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
He lurks in ambush near the villages;
in hiding he murders the innocent;
his eyes spy upon the unfortunate. R.
You do see, for you behold misery and sorrow,
taking them in your hands.
On you the unfortunate man depends;
of the fatherless you are the helper. R.
Gospel – Mt 12:14-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
Featured Saints
St. Elijah (Elias) the Thesbite. 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.
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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