Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Ephrem, deacon and Doctor of the Church (†373). Optional memorial. An eminent theologian and hymnodist, he was the first Father of the Church to declare himself a servant of Mary. He died in Edessa, present-day Turkey.
St. Joseph Anchieta, priest (†1597). Jesuit priest, born in the Canary Islands, Spain, he dedicated most of his life evangelizing in Brazilian Central-Eastern region, earning the title “Apostle of Brazil”, and is considered the founder of the city of São Paulo.
St. Columba, abbot (†597). Feast in Ireland. Great apostle of Ireland and Scotland; he founded the monastery of Iona which had more than forty convents under its jurisdiction.
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (†1837). Patiently bore the violent temperament of her husband and dedicated herself to the education of her seven children. Favoured with the gift of prophecy, she became the adviser for saints and illustrious ecclesiastics.
St. Richard of Andria, bishop (†twelfth century). English priest elected Bishop of Andria, Italy. He was credited with many miracles.
Blessed Robert Salt, monk and martyr (†1537). Carthusian monk imprisoned during the reign of Henry VIII of England. He died of starvation in prison.
Blessed Joseph Imbert, priest and martyr (†1794). Jesuit religious appointed vicar-apostolic of Moulins by Pius VI during the French Revolution. He was imprisoned in a galley in Rochefort, where he died.
Blessed Luigi Boccardo (†1936). Priest from the Diocese of Turin, founder of the Institute of the Daughters of Christ the King and Priest, blind nuns of contemplative life.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 2 Cor 3:4-11
Brothers and sisters: Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (R.cf.9c)
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is He! R.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and He answered them. R.
From the pillar of cloud He spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law He gave them. R.
O LORD, our God, you answered them;
a forgiving God you were to them,
though requiting their misdeeds. R.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God. R.
Gospel – Mt 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
