Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and companions, martyrs
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 conditions. Among them 96 were Vietnamesw, 11 were Spanish and 10 were French.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rev 14:14-19
I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13 (R.13b)
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity. R.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. R.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy. R.
Gospel – Lk 21:5-11
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
Featured Saints
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.
Photo gallery
