Saturday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin (†1917). She founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and left her native Italy with her followers to embark on a mission to the United States, where dedicated herself to caring for immigrants with outstanding charity. She died in Chicago in Columbus Hospital, which she had founded as part of her work (Memorial in USA. Celebrated elsewhere on December 22.)
St. Nicholas I, Pope (†867). He consolidated the authority of the Roman Pontiff throughout the Church.
Sts. Arcadius, Paschasius, Probus and Eutychian, martyrs (†473). For refusing to adhere to the Arian heresy, they were exiled from Spain to Africa and tortured before being executed.
St. Homobonus (†1197). Merchant from Cremona, Italy, who excelled in charity toward the poor and abandoned children.
St. Maxellendis, virgin and martyr (†670). Having chosen Christ as spouse, she refused the fiancé to whom she had been promised, and he killed her by the sword in Cambrai, France.
St. Augustina Pietrantoni, virgin (†1894). Religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity who cared for victims of tuberculosis in Holy Spirit Hospital in Rome. She died there after being stabbed by an enraged patient.
Blesseds Peter Vicev and Josafat Siskov, priest and martyrs (†1952). Religious from the Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption. During the Communist regime in Bulgaria, they were imprisoned on the accusation of spying and conspiracy against the “people’s power” and killed by firing squad in Sofia.
Blessed John Gonga Martínez,martyr (†1936). Lay catechist from the city of Carcaixent, near Valencia, killed during the Spanish Civil War; known for his many works of charity.
Blessed María Patrocinio Giner Gómis of St. John, virgin and martyr (†1936). Religious from the Clarist Missionaries, killed in Portichol, near Valencia, during the Spanish Civil War.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9
[When peaceful stillness compassed everything
and the night in its swift course was half spent,
Your all-powerful word, from heaven’s royal throne
bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land,
bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree.
And as he alighted, he filled every place with death;
he still reached to heaven, while he stood upon the earth.
For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew,
serving its natural laws,
that your children might be preserved unharmed.
The cloud overshadowed their camp;
and out of what had before been water, dry land was seen emerging:
Out of the Red Sea an unimpeded road,
and a grassy plain out of the mighty flood.
Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand,
after they beheld stupendous wonders.
For they ranged about like horses,
and bounded about like lambs,
praising you, O Lord! their deliverer.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43 (R. 5a)
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! R.
Then he struck every firstborn throughout their land,
the first fruits of all their manhood.
And he led them forth laden with silver and gold,
with not a weakling among their tribes. R.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones. R.
Gospel – Lk 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
