Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, religious (+1373). Of royal lineage, she was given in marriage to Prince Ulfo of Nercia and had eight children. Becoming a widow after twenty years of marriage, she embraced the consecrated life. She counseled kings and Popes, and founded the Order of the Most Holy Saviour, known as the Brigittines.
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You have withdrawn all your wrath;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. Ezekiel, prophet. He admonished the Chosen People for their infidelities, and prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation to Babylon.
Blessed Basile Hopko, bishop and martyr (†1976). Auxiliary Bishop of Presov, imprisoned and tortured by the Slovakian government; he contracted a serious illness which led to his death.
St. Valerian of Cimiez, bishop (†circa 460). Monk appointed Bishop of Lérins, France. He wrote a work on the lives of the saints for the edification of religious and people in general.
Blessed Jane of Orvieto, virgin (†1306). Religious of the Sisters of Penance of St. Dominic; ardent devotee of the Lord’s Passion.
Blessed Krystyn Gondek, priest and martyr (†1942). Polish Franciscan sent to Dachau concentration camp, Germany, where he died from torture.
Blessed Peter Ruiz, priest and martyr (†1936). Director-General of the Fraternity of Diocesan Worker Priests and founder of the Disciples of Jesus Institute. He was martyred in Toledo, Spain during the Civil War.
St. John Cassian, priest (†c. 435). After living as a monk in Palestine and a hermit in Egypt, he founded the Abbey of St. Victor in Marseille, France, composed of two separate communities for men and women.
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