Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop. Born in Catalonia, Spain, he founded the Congregation of Missionaries Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians) and was appointed Archbishop of Cuba. He returned to Spain and was the confessor of Queen Isabel II. Life in court, during which his conduct was irreproachable, was a great trial for him. He died in 1870 in the Abbey of Fontfroide, France.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 4:32–5:8
Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed Himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 (R. see Eph. 5:1)
R. Behave like God as His very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on His law day and night. R.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers. R.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes. R.
Gospel – Lk 13:10-17
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, He called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid His hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When He said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by Him.
Featured Saints
St. Louis Guanella (†1915), priest. Founded the Congregation of the Servants of Charity and the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence in Como, Italy, to attend to the needs of the poorest and most afflicted, and to seek their salvation.
St. Proclus, bishop (†446). Patriarch of Constantinople, he fearlessly proclaimed the Divine Motherhood of Mary and transferred the body of St. John Chrysostom to this city.
St. Magloire, bishop (circa 605). He was a disciple of St. Iltude in the monastery of Llantwit, Wales, together with his cousin, St. Samson, future Bishop of Dol, whom he succeeded in this diocese.
St. Fromundus, bishop (†seventh century). Founded the monastery of nuns of Ham and exercised the pastoral ministry in Coutances, present-day France.
St. Martin of Vertou, deacon and abbot (†sixth century). Ordained by St. Felix, Bishop of Nantes, France, he was sent to evangelize pagans in neighbouring regions. He built and ruled the monastery of Vertou.
St. Joseph Lê Ðăng Thi, martyr (†1860). Vietnamese army officer, imprisoned, tortured and strangled to death for being Christian.
Blessed Joseph Baldo, priest (†1915). Founder of the Congregation of the Little Daughters of St. Joseph. As a fruit of his ardent Eucharistic devotion, he dedicated himself to works of charity and catechesis in Verona, Italy.
Image gallery
St. Anthony Mary Claret – Claretian Museum, Vic (Spain) – Photo: Francisco Lecaros St. Anthony Mary Claret – Claretian Museum, Vic (Spain) – Photo: Francisco Lecaros