Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria, martyr. The Emperor Maximinus convoked several philosophers to attempt to convince her against the divinity of Christ. Catherine converted them and they were also martyred. She was decapitated in 305.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rv 20:1-4, 11—21:2
I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain. He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the Devil or Satan, and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray until the thousand years are completed. After this, it is to be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death.) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6A and 8A (R. Rev. 21:3b)
R. Here God lives among His people.
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God. R.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God! R.
Blessed they who dwell in Your house!
continually they praise You.
Blessed the men whose strength You are!
They go from strength to strength. R.
Gospel – Lk 21:29-33
Jesus told His disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Beatrice of Ornacieux, virgin (†1303-1309). Religious from the Carthusian Order, Prioress of the Monastery of Eymieux, France, where she lived and died in extreme poverty.
St. Marculus, Bishop (†347). According to tradition, he was martyred during the reign of Emperor Constantius, in Numidia, Algeria by being thrown from a cliff.
St. Moses of Rome, priest and martyr (†251). Together with the presbyteral college, he guided the Church after the martyrdom of Pope St. Fabian. After a lengthy imprisonment, he shed his blood for the Faith.
St. Maurinus, martyr (†sixth century). Brutally murdered by pagans while preaching the Gospel to the rural population of Agen, France.
St. Peter Yi Ho-yŏng, martyr (†1838). Catechist imprisoned during the persecution in Korea. He died in prison after being tortured.
Blessed Elizabeth Achler, virgin (†1480). Religious from the Franciscan Third Order Regular who lived in Reute, Germany, prasticing humility, poverty and corporal mortification.
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