Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Featured Saints
Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, priests, and companions, martyrs. Memorial in the United States. Eight Jesuit missionaries from France who evangelized among the native peoples of North America, particularly of the Huron tribe, and were captured, tortured and killed by the Iroquois on various dates over a seven-year period. (Feast in Canada: Sept. 26)
St. Paul of the Cross, priest (†1775, Rome). Optional Memorial. Mystic and founder of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, or the Passionists. (USA: transferred to Oct. 20.)
St. Luke Alonso Gorda, priest, and Mathhew Kohioye, religious, martyrs (†1634). Intrepid Dominican preachers of the Gospel in the Philippines and in Japan, where they suffered martyrdom.
St. Varus, martyr (†307). Egyptian soldier who embraced the Faith while guarding six holy Christian monks awaiting execution, was imprisoned along with them and put to death amidst terrible tortures, in Alexandria.
St. Frideswide, virgin (†735). She left court life and founded a Convent dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oxford, England, of which she became abbess. She is the patroness of the city of Oxford and of its university.
Blessed Thomas Helye, priest (†1257). He exercised his priestly ministry during the day and dedicated himself to prayer and penance at night, in the Diocese of Coutances, France.
Blessed George Popieluszko, priest and martyr (†1984). Priest of the Diocese of Warsaw who was killed at the age of 37 by communist agents who apprehended him on the road, beat, bound and threw him into a water reservoir to drown.
Blessed Agnes of Jesus Galand, virgin (†1634). Prioress of the Dominican Monastery of Langeac, France, she offered Christ her prayers and sufferings for the intention of the good formation of priests.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21
Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned. If by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17(R.8a and 9a)
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sinofferings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.” R.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!” R.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. R.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.” R.
Gospel – Lk 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
