Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
St. John Chrysostom, bishop and Doctor of the Church (†407). After the death of his widowed mother, he retreated to the desert as an anchorite. Called to Antioch, he was ordained a deacon, a priest, and finally was consecrated as Bishop and Patriarch of the See of Constaninople, capital of the Eastern Empire. He is called “Chrysostom”, a Greek work meaning “mouth of gold”, in reference to the fiery eloquence and wisdom of his words. He faced persecution from many adversaries and died in exile, in the city of Comana (in present-day Turkey) leaving behind him a wealth of intellectual production.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Col 3:1-11
Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab (R.9)
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all His works.
Every day will I bless You,
and I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
His greatness is unsearchable. 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.
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.
Gospel – Lk 6:20-26
Raising his eyes toward His disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Maria de Jesus López Rivas, religious (†1640). P). Disciple of St. Teresa of Avila and Prioress of the Carmel of Toledo. Slandered and deposed from her office, she endured all her sufferings with great charity.
St. Maurilius, bishop (†453). Born in Milan, he was a disciple of St. Martin of Tours, by whom he was ordained priest. Elected Bishop of Angers, France, he eradicated the pagan superstitions of the rural people.
St. Amatus, priest and abbot (†629). Outstanding for his austerity, he wisely governed the abbey of Mont Haberd, in the region of Vosges, France, which he founded together with St. Romaric.
St. Marcellinus, martyr († 413). Close friend of St. Augustine and St. Jerome, with whom he exchanged correspondence; he was killed for defending the Faith in polemics with the Donatists.
Blessed Aurelio Maria (Benvindo Villalón Acebrón), religious and martyr (†1936). Spanish member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, he was killed out of hatred for the Church.
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