Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Dn 7:2-14
In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others. The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human mind. The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.” After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard; on its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given. After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength; it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet. I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly. As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up. The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season. 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, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm – Dn 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 (R.Rev. 19: 9a)
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.” R.
“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever. R.
“You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.” R.
“Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.” R.
“You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.” R.
“All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.” R.
“All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.” 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
St. Stephen, the Younger, monk and martyr (†764). Abbot of the monastery of Monte Sant’Aussenzio, in present-day Turkey. He was exiled and later imprisoned, tortured and finally decapitated during the iconoclast persecution of Constantine V Copronymus, Emperor of Constantinople.
St. James of the Marches, priest (†1476). Franciscan, disciple of St. Bernardine of Siena, he was a great preacher and orator, practising his ministry in in Italy, Poland, Bohemia, Bosnia and Hungary.
St. Papinianus of Vita and Mansuetus of Uruci, bishops and martyrs (†fifth century). These two African prelates were burned in every part of their bodies with red hot iron plates for their defence of the Catholic Faith against the Arian king, Genseric.
St. Andrew Tran Van Trong, martyr (†1835). He was imprisoned and cruelly tortured for refusing to trample a cross; he was beheaded in Kham Duong, Vietnam.
Blessed Theodora of Rossano, abbess (†980). A spiritual disciple of St. Nilus the Younger, she instructed many in the ways of monastic life in Calabria (Italy).
Blessed Luis Campos Górriz, martyr (†1936). Doctor of law and member of the Lay Apostolate; he was killed by firing squad for his Catholic faith in Paterna, near Valencia, Spain.
