Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of 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.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up. Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt; God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars. If they would say, “We have no king”— Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them? The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters. The high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars. Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall upon us!” “Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R.4b)
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! R.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. R.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail. R.
Gospel – Mt 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Featured Saints
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.
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