The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Dn 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5 (R.1a)
R. R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. R.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD. R.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.R.
Second Reading – Rv 1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”
Gospel – Jn 18:33b-37
Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Featured Saints
Sunday takes precedence over the Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and 116 Companions, Martyrs. They suffered martyrdom in Vietnam on different dates, ranging from 1625 to 1886 and were canonized in 1998. Eight were bishops, 50 priests, and 59 lay people of varying age and social condition. Among therm 96 were of Vietnamese nationality, 11 were Spanish and 10 were French.
St. Firmina, virgin and martyr (†303). She died for her faith at Amelia, in Umbria, Italy, during the Diocletian persecution, after being subjected to various tortures.
St. Albert of Louvain, bishop and martyr (†1192). Bishop of Liège, present-day Belgium, he was exiled for defending the Church and killed in Rheims, France.
St. Chrysogonus, martyr (fourth century). He was beheaded for his Faith in the ancient Roman city of Aquileia during the Diocletian persecution.
St. Colman, bishop (†604-608). Poet from the court of Cashel, Ireland, he was baptized by St. Brennan, and eventually became the first Bishop of Cloyne.
St. Pourçain, abbot (†532). A former slave who, guided by Providence, found freedom in a monastery of the Clermont-Ferrand region of France, of which he later became abbot.
Blessed Balsamo, abbot (†1232). Amid the confusion and contradictions of his time, he guided the Abbey of the Holy Trinity of Cava de’ Tirreni, Italy with wisdom and prudence.
Blessed Maria Anna Sala, virgin (†1891). Religious from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Marcellina in Milan, Italy. She dedicated herself entirely to the education of youth.
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