Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memmorials: St. Paul of the Cross, priest (†1775, Rome). Mystic and founder of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, or the Passionists. (USA: transferred to Oct. 20.)
Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, priests, and companions, martyrs (Memorial in US). 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 on Sept. 26).
Mass Readings
First Reading – Rom 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters: Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by His Blood, to prove His righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, through the forbearance of God– to prove His righteousness in the present time, that He might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus. What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith. For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Does God belong to Jews alone? Does He not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab (R.7)
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication. R.
If You, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with You is forgiveness,
that You may be revered. R.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in His word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn. 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. 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.
