Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, (†1591). Jesuit religious. Heir of the Marquess of Castiglione, he consecrated himself to God and made a vow of chastity. Praying to Our Lady of Good Counsel, he felt called to be a Jesuit. He renounced his title and entered the novitiate, where St. Robert Bellarmine was his spiritual director. He dreamed of being a missionary and a martyr. When a plague struck Rome in 1591, the Jesuits opened a hospital to care for its victims, and Aloysius contracted the illness while caring for the sick, and died shortly thereafter.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 2 Cor 12:1-10
Brothers and sisters: I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven. And I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter. About this man I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 34:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (R.9a)
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.R.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for nought is lacking to those who fear him.
The great grow poor and hungry;
but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.R.
Come, children, hear me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Which of you desires life,
and takes delight in prosperous days? R.
Gospel –Mt 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
Featured Saints
St. Raymond of Barbastro, bishop (†1126). He was canon regular of the Church of St. Saturninus in Toulouse, France, when he was appointed Bishop of Barbastro-Roda, Spain.
St. José Isabel Flores, priest and martyr (†1927). Parish priest from Matatlán, Mexico, beheaded during the religious persecutions in Zapotlanejo.
St. Meven (or Méen), abbot (†sixth century). He was born in Wales and went into seclusion in a forest in Brittany. He founded the monastery named in his honour, in the present-day commune of Saint-Meén-le-Grand, France.
St. Leutfridus, abbot (†738). Founded a monastery and shelter for the poor in Evreux, France, both of which he guided with holiness and wisdom for almost forty-eight years .
St. John Rigby, martyr (†1600). Young layman arrested and executed in London, during the reign of Elizabeth I of England, for having reconciled with the Church.
St. Ralph of Bourges, bishop (†866). Benedictine abbot elected Bishop of Bourges, France. He showed great concern for the progress of the clergy.
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