Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Optional Memorial of St. Frances of Rome, religious (†1440). For forty years, this Roman noblewoman lead a life of admirable piety, humility and patience, in the role of wife and mother. Following her husband’s death, she entered the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary which she herself had founded. She was favoured with extraordinary mystical graces and gifts.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Hos 6:1-6
“Come, let us return to the LORD it is He who has rent, but He will heal us; He has struck us, but He will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day He will raise us up to live in His presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is His coming and His judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain like spring rain that waters the earth.” What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your piety is like a morning cloud like the dew that early passes away. For this reason I smote them through the prophets I slew them by the words of my mouth; For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Responsorial Psalm – 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab (R. see Hosea 6:6)
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness;
in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me. R.
For You are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, You would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn. R.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in Your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall You be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts. R.
Gospel – Lk 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Featured Saints
St. Catherine of Bologna, virgin (†1463). Religious of the Order of St. Clare. Outstanding in the liberal arts, but even more so for her mystical gifts and her virtues of penance and humility; as abbess, she formed other consecrated virgins.
St. Dominic Savio, layman (†1857) Disciple of St. John Bosco, he followed his counsel for attaining holiness: joy, devotion to Our Lady, prayer, studies and doing good to his colleagues of the Oratory. He died at age 15 in Mondonio, Italy.
St. Pacian, bishop (†c.390). Bishop of Barcelona, Spain. In preaching the Faith, he affirmed: “Christian is my name and Catholic my surname.”
St. Bruno, bishop and martyr (†1009). Chaplain in the court of Emperor Otto III, he became a Camaldolese monk. He was appointed Bishop of Querfurt and died during a mission in Moravia, slain by pagans along with eighteen companions.
Sts. Peter Ch’oe Hyŏng and John Baptist Chŏn Chang-un, martyrs (†1866). Korean laymen, fathers of families, who collaborated in teaching catechism and publishing Christian books. For this they were tortured and beheaded.
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