Memorial of St. Cornelius, Pope and St. Cyprian, 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 Tim 3:1-13
Beloved, this saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the Church of God? He should not be a recent convert, so that he may not become conceited and thus incur the Devil’s punishment. He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil’s trap. Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6 (R.2)
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Of mercy and judgment I will sing;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will persevere in the way of integrity;
when will you come to me? R.
I will walk with blameless heart,
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
any base thing. R.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I destroy.
The man of haughty eyes and puffed up heart
I will not endure. R.
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service. R.
Gospel – Lk 7:11-17
Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
Featured Saints and Commemorations
Our Lady of Las Lajas (Colombia) A magnificent, miraculous image of Our Lady and the Child Jesus, pictured together with Saints Dominic and Francis, found at the Sanctuary of Las Lajas, a basilica located in the southern Colombian department of Nariño, in the municipality of Ipiales, Colombia. The image is miraculously impressed on rock, within a former grotto on the mountainside, now transformed into a sanctuary in Her honor.
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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