Mass Readings

First Reading – Col 2:6-15

Brothers and sisters: As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted in Him and built upon Him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in Him, who is the head of every principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He brought you to life along with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, He also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross; despoiling the principalities and the powers, He made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11 (R.9)

R. The Lord is compassionate toward all His works.

I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless You,
and I will praise Your name forever and ever. R.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all His works. R.

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.

Gospel – Lk 6:12-19

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, He called His disciples to Himself, and from them He chose Twelve, whom He also named Apostles: Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And He came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of His disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch Him because power came forth from Him and healed them all.

Featured Saints

St. Albeus, bishop (†528). He founded the See of Emly, Ireland, and was the main evangelizer of the region. His example and apostolic zeal brought many to the Faith.

St. Guido, confessor (†1012). As sacristan of St. Mary Church in Brussels, he was a dedicated helper of the poor. He went on pilgrimage for seven years to Rome and the Holy Land, returning to his native land, where he died in Anderlecht (Belgium)

St. Francis Ch’oe Kyong-Hwan, catechist and martyr (†1839). He encouraged Catholics to face martyrdom with fortitude during the religious persecution in Korea, and was arrested in Seoul for refusing to renounce the Faith. In prison, He dedicated himself to catechesis until his death from exhaustion and torture.

Blessed Apollinaris Franco, priest and martyr (†1622). Spanish Franciscan and missionary in the Philippines and Japan; founded many houses of charity. He was burned alive in Japan during persecution.

Blessed Thomas Zumarraga, priest and martyr (†1622). Spanish Dominican missionary in Japan. He was imprisoned in Omura out of hatred for the faith, after three years of confinement, he was burned alive, together with the Franciscan Apollinaris Franco and four other companions.

Blessed Peter Sulpicius Christopher Faverge, martyr (†1794). Christian Brother and teacher who was imprisoned in a galley, along with hundreds of other victims of the French Revolution. He died there as a consequence of diseases contracted while caring for sick prisoners.

Blessed Maria Luisa Prosperi, abbess (†1847). Benedictine nun from Trevi, Italy, to whom Our Lord granted extraordinary mystical gifts along with long and sorrowful trials, which she bore with heroic fortitude and patience.