Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious (†1231). Daughter of the King of Hungary, she was married to Louis IV of Thuringia with whom she had three children. After the death of her husband, she made a vow of celibacy and left her castle to lead a life of extraordinary charity taking the habit of the third order of St. Francis. She died at the age of 24 in the Hospital of Marburg which she built, and where she dedicated herself to caring for the sick.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Wis 13:1-9
All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing Him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan; But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. Or if they were struck by their might and energy, let them from these things realize how much more powerful is He who made them. For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. But yet, for these the blame is less; For they indeed have gone astray perhaps, though they seek God and wish to find Him. For they search busily among His works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair. But again, not even these are pardonable. For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 19:2-3, 4-5ab (R.2a)
R. The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge. R.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message. R.
Gospel – Lk 17:26-37
Jesus said to His disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to Him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”
Featured Saints
St. Hugh of Lincoln, abbot and bishop (†1200). Of Burgundian nobility, he became a Benedictine in his youth, and then a Carthusian, entering the Grande Chartreuse. He was sent in 1179 to become the prior of the first Carthusian house in England, Witham Charterhouse. Under obedience, he accepted appointment as the Bishop of Lincoln, which see flourished under his wise and just direction.
St. Hilda of Whitby, abbess (†680). A princess of Northumbria who was baptized by St. Paulinus and, under the guidance of St. Aiden, became the abbess of the monsastery of Hartpool, and later of Whitby Abbey, an important religious centre where the decisive Synod of Whitby was held.
Sts. Jordan Ansalone and Thomas Rokuzayemon Nishi, priests and martyrs (†1634). Dominican priests martyred in Nagasaki, Japan.
St. Lazarus of Constantinople, monk (†circa 867). Born in Armenia, he became a monk in Constantinople. Accomplished painter of sacred images.
Blessed Josaphat Kocylovskyj, bishop and martyr (†1947). Basilian religious elected Bishop of
Przemyśl, Poland. He died in a concentration camp on the outskirts of Kiev.
Blessed Salomea of Krakow, abbess (†1268). Polish noblewoman married to the king of Hungary. After the death of her spouse, she became a Poor Clare.
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