Wednesday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
In the USA, memorial of 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 in the United States, where she dedicated herself to caring for immigrants with outstanding charity. She died in Chicago, at Columbus Hospital, which she had founded as part of her work (Celebrated in the General Calendar on December 22.)
Mass Readings
First Reading – Wis 7:22b–8:1
In Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle. For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her. For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom. For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom. Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.
Responsorial Psalm – 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175 (R.89a)
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens. R.
Through all generations your truth endures;
you have established the earth, and it stands firm. R.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you. R.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple. R.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes. R.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.R.
Gospel – Lk 17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
Featured Saints
St. Homobonus (†1197). Merchant from Cremona, Italy, who excelled in charity toward the poor and abandoned children.
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. 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.
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