Monday of the 16th 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 – Micah 6:1-4, 6-8
Hear what the LORD says: Arise, present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice! Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD, pay attention, O foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a plea against his people, and he enters into trial with Israel. O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery I released you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23 (R. 23b)
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge. R.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.” R.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?” R.
Gospel – Mt 12:38-42
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
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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