Mass Readings

First Reading – Gn 17:1, 9-10, 15-22

God further said to Abraham: “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai; her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue from him.” Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?” Then Abraham said to God, “Let but Ishmael live on by your favor!” God replied: “Nevertheless, your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him Isaac. I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I am heeding you: I hereby bless him. I will make him fertile and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve chieftains, and I will make of him a great nation. But my covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you by this time next year.” When he had finished speaking with him, God departed from Abraham.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (R.4)

R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear Him.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in His ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored. R.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table. R.

Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life. R.

Gospel – Mt 8:1-4

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him. And then a leper approached, did Him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

Featured Saints

St. Adolf of Osnabrück, bishop (†1224). After election as Bishop of Osnabrück, Germany, he continued to practise the austerities of Cistercian life which he had embraced in the Monastery of Altenkamp.

St. Otto (†1139). Bishop of Bamberg, Germany, he zealously evangelized the Pomeranians.

St. Theobald, priest and hermit (†1066). Of noble French lineage, he exchanged honours and riches for a life of mendicancy and contemplation.

St. Vincent Ðô Yên, priest and martyr (†1838). Dominican friar beheaded in Hai Duong, Vietnam, during the anti-Christian persecution of Emperor Minh Mang.

St. Basilides, soldier and martyr (†c. 202). In seeking to protect St. Potamiana from the insults of shameless men as she was led to execution, he was converted to Christ and also received the palm of martyrdom.

St. Erentrude, abadess (†718). A relative of St. Rupert of Salzburg, who invited her to assume the governance of Nonnberg Abbey abbey then being opened there. As abbess, she instilled monastic observance, prayer and holiness by her example.

Blessed Januarius Mary Sarnelli, priest (†1744). After meeting St. Alphonsus Liguori, he became a Redemptorist and traveled with him on missions throughout Italy.

Blessed Basil Velyčkovskyj, bishop and martyr (†1973). Redemptorist religious and Bishop of Lviv, Ukraine. He was severely tortured and persecuted for having clandestinely exercised his ministry under the communist regime. He died in exile, in Winnipeg, Canada

Blessed Zenon Kovalyk, priest and martyr (†1941). Redemptorist priest, killed in prison in Lviv, Ukraine.