Memorial of St. 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 – 1 Tim 1:15-17
Beloved: This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5 and 6-7 (R.2)
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever. R.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory. R.
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage. R.
Who is like the LORD, our God,
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. R.
Gospel – Lk 6:43-49
Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Maria de Jesus López Rivas, religious (†1640). 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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