Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Heart of Mary, first mentioned in Scripture, was ever immaculate, for in it the Blood of Jesus, price of our Redemption was to be formed. Aflame with divine love, She hastened by her desires the salvation of the world. In Fatima, Our Lady promised: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
Memorial of St. Anthony 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 Kings 19:19-21
Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?” Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10 (R. 17a)
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot. R.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R.
Gospel – Mt 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.”
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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