Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (†107). Disciple of St. John the Evangelist, he was the Bishop of Antioch. He died torn by wild beasts in the Amphitheatre of Rome.
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rom 1:16-25
Brothers and sisters: I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.” The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from Heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what He has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord Him glory as God or give Him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes. Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 (R.2a)
R.The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge. R.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message. R.
Gospel – Lk 11:37-41
After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited Him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that He did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
Featured Saints
St. Francois Isidore Gagelin, priest and martyr (†1833). As a small boy in a devout French family that provided refuge for faithful clerics during the French Revolution, he longed to be a priest and a martyr. He became a priest of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris and died during the persecutions in Vietnam.
St. Richard Gwyn, martyr (†1584). Father of a family and schoolteacher in Wales, he converted to the Catholic Faith and was imprisoned for four years and executed for his efforts to lead others to the Faith.
St. Hosea, Prophet. By his words and example of life, he proclaimed the Lord as the ever-faithful Spouse of infinite mercy.
Blessed Jacques Burin, priestand martyr (†1794). He clandestinely carried out his pastoral ministry during the French Revolution, until being shot to death while celebrating Mass in Laval.
Blessed Peter of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Casani, presbítero (†1647). priest (†1647). Piarist religious who died in Rome; He was a child educator and also attracted multitudes with his preaching.
Blessed Gilbert the Cistercian, abbot (†1167). Born in England, he was a Cistercian abbot; a man of great knowledge, he defended St. Thomas Beckett in exile.
Blesseds Marie Natalie of St. Louis Vanot and companions, virgins and martyrs (†1794). Religious of the Ursuline Order guillotined in Valenciennes during the French Revolution.
Blessed Tarsila Cordoba Belda, mother of a family, martyr (†1936). In Valencia, Spain, during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Civil War, she hid Church goods and cared for nuns in hiding until she was discovered, imprisoned and killed.
Photo gallery
