Tuesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of the First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
Mass Readings
First Reading – Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12
Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the Lord pronounces over you, over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt: You alone have I favored, more than all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your crimes. Do two walk together unless they have agreed? Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something? Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground without catching anything? If the trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened? If evil befalls a city, has not the Lord caused it? Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. The lion roars– who will not be afraid! The Lord God speaks– who will not prophesy! I brought upon you such upheaval as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: you were like a brand plucked from the fire; Yet you returned not to me, says the Lord. So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel! and since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8 (R.9a)
R. T Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight. R.
You hate all evildoers;
you destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the Lord abhors. R.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever. R.
But I, because of your abundant mercy,
will enter your house;
I will worship at your holy temple
in fear of you, O Lord. R.
Gospel – Mt 8:23-27
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
Featured Saints
First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (+ 64 – Rome). When Nero blamed the Christians for the burning of Rome, a great multitude of these disciples of the Apostles in this city were captured, tortured and killed by varied means. Their total number is unknown.
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.
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