Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Featured Saints
St. Simplicius, Pope (†483). He comforted the afflicted during the barbarian invasions, sustained the unity of the Church and fought the Monophysite heresy.
St. Macarius, bishop (†c. 325). Bishop of Jerusalem in the time of Constantine. He promoted the construction of the Basilica of the Resurrection and intervened in the Nicene Council.
St. John Ogilvie, priest and martyr (†1615).From a Calvinist Scottish family, he went to study in Louvain, Belgium, where he he converted to Catholicism and entered the Company of Jesus. After his ordination, he secretly returned to his native Scotland to exercise his ministry. While in London, he was arrested and mercilessly tortured for four months, before winning the palm of martyrdom.
Santo Atala, abade (†626). Sucessor de São Columbano. Logrou manter as austeridades da Regra do santo fundador, dirigindo com amor e fortaleza o mosteiro de Bobbio.
St. Marie Eugene Milleret, virgin (†1898). At 22 years of age, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Assumption,for the Christian education of youth, in Paris.
Blessed Jean-Joseph Lataste, priest (†1869). French Dominican, founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany.
Blessed Elias del Socorro Nieves del Castillo, priest and martyr (†1928). Augustinian priest shot to death in Cortázar, Mexico, for exercising his ministry.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Dt 4:1, 5-9
Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon Him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 (R.12a)
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you. R.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost He strews like ashes. R.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances He has not made known to them. 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.”
