Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Kgs 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.see 5a)
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. Amos. Prophet sent by the Lord to proclaim God’s justice and to censure the prevarications of the children of Israel.
St. Germaine, virgin (†1601). A Shepherdess of Pibrac, France, she accepted illness and ill-treatment with strength of soul and joy, until she peacefully went to her rest at age 22.
St. Bernard of Menthon, priest (†1081). As the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Aosta, Italy, he traversed the Alps for 42 years. He founded a famous monastery and two hospices there.
St. Vitus, martyr (†303 – Lucania, Italy).
St. Benildis, martyr (†853). She suffered martyrdom in Cordoba, Spain, for publicly confessing the divinity of Jesus Christ during the Moorish domination of Spain.
St. Barbara Cui Lianzhi, martyr (†1900). Mother of a family who was martyred by the cruellest tortures during the religious persecutions in China.
Bls. Peter Snow and Ralph Grimston, martyrs (†1598). Killed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England, the first for being a priest and the latter for harbouring him.
Blessed Luigi Maria Palazzolo, priest (†1886). Founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor and the Brothers of the Holy Family, in Bergamo, Italy, to provide aid to the poor, sick, and elderly.
Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock, virgin and martyr (†1931). Murdered at twelve years of age in São Luís, in the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina, while heroically defending her chastity.
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