Friday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, queen (†1336). Daughter of the King of Aragon, she was given in marriage to the King of Portugal. She suffered much due to his infidelities and from false accusations. She acted as a peacemaker in grave family disputes and thereby prevented bloodshed. After the death of her husband, she became a Franciscan tertiary and spent the rest of her days in detachment and mortification.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years. She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her. Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites: “Although I am a resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife.” After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: “Put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant asked him: “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?” “Never take my son back there for any reason,” Abraham told him. “The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’– he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there. If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!” A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb. One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching. Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel. She asked the servant, “Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?” “That is my master,” replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil. The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done. Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her, Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 106:1B-2, 3-4A, 4B-5 (R. 1b)
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises? R.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favour your people. R.
4Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance. R.
Gospel – Mt 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well, do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, layman (†1925). Born to a wealthy family of Turin, Italy, he habitually renounced personal privileges and comforts to help those in need, whether materially or spiritually, and showed zeal in defending virtue among youth, one of his causes being a “Eucharistic Crusade ”. He died of a fulminant case of poliomyelitis at the age of 24, and his funeral brought out thousands of mourners who regarded him as a saint.
St. Andrew of Crete, bishop (†740). Archbishop of Gortyna (Crete); eminent preacher and hymnodist.
St. Ulrich, bishop (†973). Bishop of Augsburg, in Bavaria (Germany). He died in his nineties after exercising his Episcopal ministry for 50 years.
St. Bertha of Blangy, abbess (†c. 725). In her widowhood she became a religious in the monastery which she founded, in the city of Blangy, France.
St. Caesidius Giacomantonio, priest and martyr (†1900). Franciscan who was stoned and burned in the city of Hengyang, China, while he protected the Blessed Sacrament from profanation.
Blessed Jozef Kowalski, priest and martyr (†1942). Salesian priest, arrested for practising his ministry and shipped to Auschwitz concentration camp where he continually ministered to souls despite being subjected to barbarous treatment. He was violently attacked and killed out of religious hatred by the prison guards.
Blessed Boniface of Savoy, bishop (†1270). Carthusian monk born of a noble French family and elected Archbishop of Canterbury, England.
Blessed Mary of the Crucifix Curcio, religious (†1957). Founded the Congregation of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, in Santa Marinella, near Rome. She desired to unite a missionary aspect to Carmelite spirituality, with the goal of “bringing souls to God.”
Blessed Catherine Jarrige, virgin (†1836). Dominican tertiary; during the French Revolution, she helped priests who had not taken the revolutionary oath, supplying them with bread and wine for the Eucharistic celebration.
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