Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, virgin and Doctor of the Church (†1897). At a very young age she entered the Carmel of Lisieux (France), where she became a mistress of novices. Her innocence and simplicity led her to the practice of a new way of perfection: that of spiritual childhood, the “Little Way”, which she expounds upon in her writings. After her death at age 24, she quickly became a much-beloved and powerful intercessor throughout the world.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17
Job answered the LORD and said: I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of You by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen You. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. And he had seven sons and three daughters, of whom he called the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch. In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren. Then Job died, old and full of years.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 (R. 135)
R. Lord, let Your face shine on me.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust. R.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes. R.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me. R.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you. R.
I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may know your decrees. R.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple. R.
Gospel – Lk 10:17-24
The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of Your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven. At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give You praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned You have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to Whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.” Turning to the disciples in private He said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Featured Saints
St. Nicetius of Tréveris, bishop (†561). He was, according to St. Gregory of Tours, strong in preaching, formidable in debate and constant in teaching. He suffered exile during the reign of Clothar I.
Blessed Gerard Edwards, priest and martyr (†1588). Executed in Canterbury during the anti-Catholic persecution of Elizabeth I, together with Blesseds Robert Wilcox and Christopher Buxton, priests, and Robert Widmerpool, a layman charged with giving aid to a Catholic priest.
St. Romanos, deacon (†c. 555/565). After converting from Judaism, he was ordained a deacon and departed for Constantinople. Due to his prolific composition of hymns in praise of God and the Saints he received the appellation “the Melodist”.
St. Bavo of Ghent, monk (†c. 659). Of a noble family, he lived a dissolute youth. After hearing a sermon of St. Amand, he distributed his goods among the poor and withdrew to the Benedictine abbey in Ghent, Belgium.
Blessed Antoni Rewera, priest and martyr (†1942). For confessing the true Faith, he was deported from Poland to the concentration camp in Dachau, Germany. He endured terrible tortures and obtained the crown of martyrdom.
Blessed Luigi Maria Mónti, religious (†1900). Founder of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception. He died in the orphanage he had founded in Saronno, Italy.
Blessed Kaspar Hikojiro e Andrew Yoshida, martyrs (†1617). Catechists beheaded in Nagasaki, Japão, for having recieved priests in their homes.
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