Friday of the 1st Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ez 18:21-28
Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all My statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? Says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Responsorial Psalm – 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8 (R. 3)
R. If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication. R.
If You, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with You is forgiveness,
that You may be revered. R.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in His word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD. R.
For with the LORD is kindness
and with Him is plenteous redemption;
And He will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities. R.
Gospel – Mt 5:20-26
Jesus said to His disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
Featured Saints
St. Cunegundes, empress († 1040). Wife of Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, she founded monasteries, built churches and patronized evangelization. After her husband’s death, she entered one of the monasteries she had founded where she died a holy death.
St. Anselm of Nonantola, abbot (†803). He renounced the Duchy of Friuli to enter a monastery. He founded a hospital for pilgrims and a monastery in Nonantola, Italy, of which he later became abbot.
St. Marinus and St. Asterius, martyrs (†c. 260). Roman citizens killed at Caesarea in Palestine during the persecution of Emperor Gallienus for professing the Christian Faith.
St. Teresa Eustochio Verzeri, virgin (†1852). Foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bergamo, Italy.
St. Katharine Drexel, virgin (†1955). Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Philadelphia. She was an educator of black and native Americans, generously employing her inheritance for this objective.
Blessed Peter di Jeremia, priest (†1452). Dominican religious, formed as a preacher by St. Vincent Ferrer; he dedicated himself entirely to the salvation of souls. He died in Palermo, Italy.
Blesseds Liberatus Weiss, Samuel Marzorati and Michael Pius Fasoli of Zerbo, priests and martyrs (†1716). Franciscan religious missionaries stoned to death in Gondar, Ethiopia.
Blessed Peter René Rogue, priest and martyr (†1796). Lazarist priest, martyred during the French Revolution for rejecting the Civil Constitution of the Clergy.
Blessed Frederick of Friesland, abbot (†1175). He was a parish priest in Hallum, Holland, and later abbot of the Premonstratensian monastery of Mariengaarde.
Blessed Jacopino de’Canepacci, religious (†1508). Carmelite lay brother from the monastery of Vercelli, Italy.
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