Memorial of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr
According to ancient tradition, she was martyred in Rome around the year 232. She is held as the patroness and inspirer of sacred music.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rv 10:8-11
I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 (R.103a)
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches. R.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors. R.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R.
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! R.
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are. R.
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands. R.
Gospel – Lk 19:45-48
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
Featured Saints
St. Benignus of Milan, bishop (†circa 470). Governed his diocese with strength and wisdom during the upheavals produced by the barbarian invasions.
St. Peter Esqueda Ramírez, priest and martyr (†1927). Imprisoned and shot for being a priest, during the religious persecution in Mexico.
St. Philemon, (†first century). In the Pauline letter addressed to him, the Apostle of the Gentiles praises his faith and his love of Christ.
St. Ananias, martyr (†345). Died after undergoing appalling tortures, during the persecution of King Sapor II, in Persia.
Blessed Thomas Reggio, bishop (†1901). Archbishop of Genoa, Italy, he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, and strove to improve clerical formation and lay apostolate.
Blessed Salvador Lillo, Franciscan priest, and companions (†1895). Martyred in the region of Marasc, Turkey, for refusing to obey the demand of the Ottoman authorities to renounce their Faith.
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