Monday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Martin de Porres, religious (†1639). Born in Lima, Peru, in 1579, of Spanish and negro descent. He entered the Dominican Order as a lay brother and took upon himself the most humble and repugnant tasks. He was gifted with extraordinary mystical gifts, such as prophecy, ecstasy and bilocation.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rom 11:29-36
Brothers and sisters: The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To God be glory forever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 69:30-31, 33-34, 36 (R.14c)
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. R.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” R.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They shall dwell in the land and own it,
and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it. R.
Gospel – Lk 14:12-14
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Featured Saints
St. Perminius, bishop (†circa 755). Abbot and Bishop of Reichenau, he preached the Gospel to the Alemans and Bavarians, founded many monasteries and wrote a book for his followers on the religious instruction of uncultured peoples.
St. Bernard, bishop (†1130). From a noble family of the Counts of Marsi and Sangro, he became a Benedictine in Montecasino. At the age of 30, he was elevated to episcopal dignity in the diocese of Marsi, Italy, and fought against simony, while striving to restore ecclesiastical discipline, and protect the poor.
St. Ermengol, bishop (†1035). One of the most illustrious prelates who dedicated themselves to restoring Christianity in the lands reconquested from the moors in Catalonia, Spain.
St. Peter Francis Néron,priest and martyr (†1860). Religious from the Foreign Missions Society of Paris, who was imprisoned in a cramped cell, cruelly beaten and beheaded in Tonkin, Vietnam under the Emperor Tu Duc.
St. Joannicius, monk (†846). He left the imperial army to live as a hermit on Mount Olympus, and later entered the monastery of Antidium, Turkey. He defended the veneration of sacred images, and is the author of several icons in honour of the Virgin Mary.
St. Sylvia (†seventh century). Mother of Pope St. Gregory the Great. She abandoned the world to better dedicate herself to prayer and penance.
Blessed Alpais, virgin (†1211). Peasant who lived alone in a small cell in Cudot, France, where she received the gift of counsel and ability to perform miracles.
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