Saturday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
St. Melaine, bishop (†after 511). Endowed with a great spirit of prayer, he built a church with his own hands in Rennes, France, and gathered several monks to the service of God.
St. Stephen of Apt, bishop (†1046). Outstanding for his meekness, he made two pilgrimages to Jerusalem and rebuilt the cathedral of his Diocese of Apt, in the southeast of France.
St. Severus (seventh century), martyr and Bishop of Barcelona, Spain.
St. Theobald, priest (†1070). Religious from the Canons Regular of St. Augustine who died in Dorat, França.As the church custodian, he left only to care for the sick.
St. Winnoc, abbot (†716). Believed to be of Welsh origin. Disciple of St. Bertin in the Monastery of Sithiu, near Saint-Omer, France. He founded and governed the Monastery of Wormhout in northern France.
St. Felix, martyr. Third century.
Sts. Callinicus, Imerius, Theodore, Stephen, Peter, Paul, other Theodore, John, other John and another, of unknown name, martyrs (†638). In Gaza, soldiers captured by the Saracens of this city, encouraged by the bishop St. Sophronius, confessed their faith in Christ and were beheaded.
St. Leonard of Noblac, hermit (†559). A frankish noble and coutier of Clovis, who became a convert and follower of St. Remigius. He took up his abode in a forest at Limoges (France), where he gathered a number of followers, later establishing an abbey at Noblac around which developed the village later called Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat.
Blessed Christina of Stommeln, virgin (†1312). Born in Stommeln, close to Cologne (Germany). She entered the convent of the Beguines of Cologne at age 12, and at 15 was marked by the stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She endured terrible sufferings, including tremendous temptations, with admirable courage.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
Brothers and sisters: Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; greet also the Church at their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the Apostles and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole Church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you. Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11 (R.1b)
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable. R.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works. R.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might. R.
Gospel – Lk 16:9-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?
No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”
The Pharisees, who loved money,
heard all these things and sneered at him.
And he said to them,
“You justify yourselves in the sight of others,
but God knows your hearts;
for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”
