Thursday of the 3rd 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 3:14-21
Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 (R.5b)
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. R.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. R.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. R.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine. R.
Gospel – Lk 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Featured Saints
St. Louis Guanella (†1915), priest. He 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 of Coutances, 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.
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