Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional memorial of St. Charbel Makhluf, priest (+1898). A Lebanese Maronite monk known for his asceticism and profound mystical life. He was later permitted to live as a solitary hermit and acquired a widespread reputation for holiness during his life.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 1:1, 4-10
The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15 and 17 (R.see 15ab)
R. I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me. R.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. R.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength. R.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. R.
Gospel – Mt 13:1-9
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Featured Saints
Sts. Boris and Gleb, martyrs (†1015). Sons of St. Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev, they preferred to die than to enter into armed conflict with their brother Sviatopolk.
St. Christina, martyr (IV century)
Blessed Louise of Savoy, religious (†1503). Daughter of Blessed Amadeus, Duke of Savoy. She married Hugo, Prince of Chalon, and was widowed while still very young. She abandoned worldly honours and riches to become a Clarist under the reform of St. Colette.
Blessed Maria Mercedes Prat, virgin and martyr (†1936). Shot for being a nun during the anti-Catholic hatred of the Spanish Civil War.
St. Joseph Fernandez, priest and martyr (†1838). Dominican missionary beheaded during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, in Nam Dinh (Vietnam).
St. Euphrasia, virgin (†fifth century). From a noble senatorial family, she withdrew to lead a hermitic life in the desert in Egypt.
St. Baldwin, abbot (†1140). Disciple of St. Bernard in the monastery of Clairvaux, he founded the Monastery of St. Matthew in Rieti, Italy.
St. Fantinus the Elder (†fourth century). Nicknamed the Wonderworker, he performed many prodigies in Tauriana, Italy.
St. Kinga (or Cunegunde) of Poland, religious (†1293). Daughter of the King of Hungary, she married the Prince of Krakow, Bolesław V , and both lived in perfect chastity. After the death of her spouse, she became a Poor Clare in the monastery she had founded.
Image gallery
