Featured Saints
St. Isaiah, prophet (†seventh century BC). “Great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God” (Eccl 48:25), Isaiah was sent to reveal the coming of the Saviour to the unfaithful people, in fulfillment of the promises made to David.
St. Joseph Ðô Quang Hiên, priest and martyr (†1840). Dominican priest beheaded in Nam-Dinh, Vietnam. Even in prison he evangelized pagans and consoled Christians in the Faith.
St. Pachomius, abbot (†347/348). Son of pagans, he converted in his youth and became an anchorite. He attracted disciples and founded numerous monasteries in Thebaid, Egypt, for which he wrote his famous rule.
St. Hermas, one of the Christians greeted by the Apostle St. Paul in the Letter to the Romans.
Blessed Thomas Pickering, monk and martyr (†1679). English Benedictine religious. He served in the chapel of Catherine of Braganza, Catholic wife of of Charles II of England. He was martyred in Tyburn on the fraudulent charge of plotting against the king’s life.
Blessed Fortis Gabrielli, hermit (†1040). After living a solitary life for several years, he entered the Camaldolese monastery of Fonte Avellana, Italy.
Blessed Stefan Grelewski, martyr (†1941). Priest from the archdiocese of Radom, Poland, who was a writer and teacher, dedicated to. During the Nazi occupation, he was imprisoned in Auschwitz and then in Dachau, where he was tortured and finally killed by starvation.
Blessed Benincasa of Montepulciano, religious (†1426). Religious from the Order of Servants of Mary, he withdrew to a grotto on Mount Amiata, Italy, to lead a penitential life.
Blessed Mary Theresa of Jesus (Karolina Gerhardinger), virgin (†1879). She founded the Congregation of the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame in Munich, Germany.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him.” While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (R. cf.2b)
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for He has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for Him,
his holy arm. R.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel. R.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise. R.
Second Reading – 1 Jn 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Gospel – Jn 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves Me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose Me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
