Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
St Teresa of Jesus, virgin and Doctor of the Church(†1582). She entered Carmel of Avila at twenty-four, encountering much laxness. At the age of forty, she began the reform of the Order of Carmel with the help of St. John of the Cross. She wrote several books setting out her sublime doctrine and describing her mystical experiences.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 1:1-10
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In Christ we have redemption by his Blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6 (R.2a)
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm. R.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise. R.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD. R.
Gospel – Lk 11:47-54
The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
Featured Saints
St. Barsen, bishop (†379). For his Catholic faith he was condemned to exile by the Arian Emperor Valente, and after changing cities three times, he died in Edessa, Turkey.
St. Severus de of Trier, bishop (†fifth centutry). He accompanied St. Germanus of Auxerre in the fight against the Pelagian heresy in England and preached the Gospel in Germany. He died in Trier, Germany.
St. Thecla of Kitzingen, abbess (†c. 790). Benedictine nun of Wimborne, England, sent to Germany to aid St. Boniface. She ruled the Ochsenfurt and Kitzingen monasteries.
St. Magdalene of Nagasaki, virgin and martyr (†1634). Augustinian Recollect Tertiary, daughter of martyrs. She helped persecuted Christians until she was martyred in Nagasaki, Japan. She withstood the torture of being suspended upside-down in a pit for 13 days, constantly invoking the names of Jesus and Mary, before surrendering her soul to God.
Blessed Gonzalo of Lagos, priest (†1422). Portuguese priest, from the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine. Although a great theologian, he chose to dedicate himself to teaching children and persons of little learning.
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