Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
St. Anthony of Padua, of Padua, priest and Doctor of the Church (+1231). Disciple of St. Francis and renowned miracle-worker, he preached relentlessly against the errors of Albigensianism, earning the title “Hammer of the Heritics”. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, he exercised his apostolate in Paudua, Italy, where he died.
Mass Readings
First Reading –1 Kgs 18:41-46
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, crouched down to the earth, and put his head between his knees. “Climb up and look out to sea,” he directed his servant, who went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.” Seven times he said, “Go, look again!” And the seventh time the youth reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab, ‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.'” In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab as far as the approaches to Jezreel.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13 (R.2a)
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God’s watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain. R.
Thus have you prepared the land:
drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield. R.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills. R.
Gospel – Mt 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
Featured Saints
St. Fandilas, priest and martyr (†853). Monk from the Monastery of Peñamelaria, Córdoba, beheaded by order of Emir Muhammad I.
St. Eulogius, bishop (†c. 607). Patriarch of Alexandria; he vigorously fought the heresies of his time, especially Monophysitism.
St. Rambert, martyr (†680). Knight of high nobility, imprisoned and killed in the vicinity of Lyon by order of Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace of the King of Neustria.
Sts. Augustine Phan Viet Huy and Nicholas Bui Viet, martyrs (†1839). Soldiers in the Vietnamese army, executed for the “crime” of being Christian, during persecutions in Vietnam.
Blessed Gerard of Clairvaux, monk (†1138). He left his military career to enter the Monastery of Clairvaux, France, governed by his brother, St. Bernard. He stood out for his intelligence and spiritual discernment.
Blessed Marianna Biernacka, widow and martyr (†1943). During the religious persecution of the Polish people during World War II, she offered to be imprisoned and killed in place of her daughter-in-law Ana, who was about to give birth. She was shot in Naumowicze, Poland.
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