Mass Readings

First Reading – Eph 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.  Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not only when being watched, as carrying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not men, knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with Him there is no partiality.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14 (R.13c)

R. The Lord is faithful in all His words.

Let all Your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let Your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of Your Kingdom
and speak of Your might. R.

Making known to men Your might
and the glorious splendor of Your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and Your dominion endures through all generations. R.

The LORD is faithful in all His words
and holy in all His works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down. R.

Gospel – Lk 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as He went and making His way to Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Featured Saints

St. Cedd, bishop (†664). A monk missionary to diverse regions of England. Ordained bishop of the East Saxons by St. Finan, he founded several churches and monasteries, including that of Lastingham, in Yorkshire. Brother of St. Chad. (Optional Memorial in England.)

St. Albinus, bishop. (†786).  Benedictine monk of Anglo-Saxon origin, one of the companions of St. Boniface in the Evangelization of Germany, appointed Bishop of  Buraburg, Hesse.

St. Fulk, bishop (†1229). Born in Piacenza, Italy, of Scottish parents. Appointed Bishop of Pavia, where he founded schools and dedicated himself the the spiritual welfare of his flock, abstaining from political affairs.

St. Eata, bishop (†circa 686). Disciple of St. Aidan. After serving as abbot in several monasteries, he became Bishop of Hexham, England, without abandoning  monastic asceticism.

St. Rusticus, bishop (†circa 461). He evangelized the people of the region of Narbonne, France, as head of that diocese, and took part in the Council of Ephesus which condemned Nestorianism.

St. Rogatianus, priest († third century). During the Decian persecution, St. Cyprian entrusted the  administration of the Church of Carthage to him. Together with St. Felicissimus, he suffered many tribulations for the love of Christ’s name.

Sts. Lucian and Marcian,  martyrs (†c. 250). According to tradition, for their Christian Faith they were burned alive in Izmit, Turkey, by order of the proconsul Sabinus, during the reign of Emperor Decius.

 Blessed Damian of Fulcheri,  priest (†1484). Dominican priest, untiring preacher in the regions of Ligouri, Lombardy and Emilia, Italy.

 Blessed Bonaventure of Potenza,  priest (†1711). Religious from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual; he was an outstanding preacher and favoured with mystical gifts .

Blessed Celine Chludzinska Borzecka, religious (†1913). She founded the Congregation of Sisters of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Rome.