Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr (†1902 Nettuno – Italy). A girl of outstanding piety, she died in her twelfth year of multiple stab wounds, heroically defending her virginity.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22
Thus says the LORD: I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. She shall respond there as in the days of her youth, when she came up from the land of Egypt. On that day, says the LORD, She shall call me “My husband,” and never again “My baal.” I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R.8a)
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable. R.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works. R.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice. R.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. R.
Gospel – Mt 9:18-26
While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Featured Saints
Blessed Suzanne-Agathe Deloye, virgin and martyr (†1794). Benedictine from the Abbey of Caderousse, imprisoned and guillotined in Orange, France, with 32 other religious.
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.
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