Memorial of Sts. Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, martyrs
St. Cornelius, Pope (+253) and St. Cyprian, bishop (+258), martyrs. St. Cornelius fought zealously for the unity of the persecuted Church. He was banished from Rome under Emperor Gallus and died a martyr in exile in Civitavecchia. St. Cyprian, as Bishop of Carthage, dedicated himself to the organization of the Church in Africa. Great orator and master of moral theology, he figures among the Patristic writers of the early Church, one of the first defenders of the Primacy of Peter.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Cor 15:12-20
Brothers and sisters: If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 17:1BCD, 6-7, 8B and 15 (R.15b)
R. Lord, when Your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. R.
I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
incline Your ear to me; hear my word.
Show Your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at Your right hand. R.
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings,
But I in justice shall behold Your face;
on waking, I shall be content in Your presence. R.
Gospel – Lk 8:1-3
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying Him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
Featured Saints
St. Ludmila, martyr (†921). Duchess of Bohemia, baptized by St. Methodius. She dedicated herself to works of charity, building churches and spreading the Faith. On account of her religious influence in the education her her grandson, the future ruler St. Wenceslaus, St. Ludmilda was murdered by her daughter-in-law.
St. Ninian of Galloway, bishop (†c. 432). Of British origin, he led the Picts of southern Scotland to embrace the Faith, becoming the first Bishop of Galloway.
St. Vital, abbot (†1122). He renounced earthly posts and founded a monastery in Savigny, France, where he gathered many disciples.
St. Martin of Finojosa, bishop and abbot (†1213). Abbot of the Cistercian monastery of St. Mary of Huerta, Spain, he was ordained Bishop of Sigüenza, where he strove to reform the clergy.
St. John Macias, religious (†1645). Dominican lay brother who for many years carried out humble offices in the monastery of Lima (Peru), excelling in piety and charity. His projects for the assistance of the needy were adopted in other Latin-American countries.
St. Edith of Wilton, virgin (†984). Daughter of King Edgar of England, she consecrated herself to God from a young age at the monastery of Wilton, where she was outstanding for her humility and abnegation, repeatedly declining to accept the office of abbess.
St. Euphemia, virgin and martyr (†c. 303). For her Faith, she bore cruel torture unto death in Chalcedon, present-day Turkey.
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