Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr (†1902 Nettuno – Italy). Optional Memorial. She died in her twelfth year, of multiple stab wounds, while heroically defending her virginity.
St. Palladius, bishop (†432). Sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine I to preach the Gospel and combat the Pelagian heresy.
St. Peter Wang Zuolong, martyr (†1900). He was hanged in the province of Hebei (China) during the Boxer persecution for refusing to worship pagan idols.
Blessed Thomas Alfield, priest and martyr (†1585). He converted from Anglicanism and was ordained a Catholic priest in France. Upon his return to England he was imprisoned and renounced the Faith under torture. He afterwards repented, returned to the Catholic Church, and suffered martyrdom.
Blessed Augustine-Joseph Desgardin, martyr (†1794). A Trappist monk who was incarcerated, during the French Revolution, on a prison-ship in Rochefort, where he devoted himself to the needs of his ailing fellow prisoners amid appalling conditions, until he contracted the illness that brought his death.
Blessed Maria Teresa Ledóchowska, virgin (†1922). Polish-Austrian noblewoman, foundress of the Institute of Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver, in Rome, dedicated to working in the African Missions.
Blessed Nazaria of St. Teresa March Mesa, virgin (†1943). Spanish nun who died in Buenos Aires. She founded the Institute of the Missionary Crusaders of the Church in Bolivia.
Blessed Suzanne-Agathe de Loye, virgin and martyr (†1794). Benedictine from the Abbey of Caderousse, imprisoned and guillotined in Orange, France, with 32 other religious.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 32:23-33
In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives, with the two maidservants and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had taken them across the stream and had brought over all his possessions, Jacob was left there alone. Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” The man asked, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed.” Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.” He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?” With that, he bade him farewell. Jacob named the place Peniel, “Because I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” At sunrise, as he left Penuel, Jacob limped along because of his hip. That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket, inasmuch as Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b and 15 (R.15a)
R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. R.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me. R.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee from their foes. R.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence. R.
Gospel – Mt 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
