Friday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional memorial of St. John of Capistrano, priest (†1456). Franciscan disciple of St. Bernardine of Siena. He was apostolic nuncio to Sicily, papal legate to France and missionary in Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 4:1-6
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. R.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. R.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. R.
Gospel – Lk 12:49-53
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
Featured Saints
St. Ignatius, bishop (†877). Persecuted and exiled for admonishing the Emperor Bardas for repudiating his legitimate wife, he was returned to his patriarchal See of Constantinople through the intervention of Pope Nicholas I.
St. Severinus Boethius, martyr (†524). Senator and Roman consul, famous for his extensive philosophical and theological works. He was martyred by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric, in Pavia (Italy).
St. Ethelfleda, abbess (†tenth century). While still an adolescent, she consecrated herself to God in the monastery founded by her father Ethelwold, in Ramsey, England. She was the abbess there for many years until her death.
St. Theodore of Antioch, priest and martyr (†c. 362). Killed by order of Julian the Apostate, for refusing to deny the Faith.
Blessed John Angelo Porro, priest (†1506). Prior of the Servite monastery in Chianti, Italy. He strove to cultivate the contemplative life and was dedicated to the catechesis of the young.
Blessed John the Good, hermit (†1249). In his youth he travelled throughout Italy as a court jestor. At age forty he converted and left the world to give himself entirely to Christ and the Church.
Blessed Arnold, religious (†1890). Religious from the Congregation of Brothers of the Christian Schools; he died in Rheims, France.
Blesseds Marie Clotilde Angele Paillot and companions, martyrs (†1794). Ursuline, Clarist and Brigidine sisters, guillotined during the French Revolution in Valenciennes.
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