Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Januarius, bishop and martyr (†305). Martyred in Pozzuoli (Italy). His blood, reserved in the Cathedral of Naples, liquefies miraculously at least three times a year.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Cor 15:1-11
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 118:1B-2, 16AB-17, 28 (R.1)
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.” R.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD. R.
You are my God, and I give thanks to you;
O my God, I extol you. R.
Gospel – Lk 7:36-50
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Featured Saints and Comemmorations
Our Lady of La Salette – The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on this date to two children, Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud, as they tended their herds, on the mountain of La Salette in the French Alps. She wept with sorrow for the sins of the world while entrusting the children with a lengthly prophetic message to be spread throughout the world.
St. Theodore, bishop (†690). Appointed by Pope St. Vitalian as Archbishop of Canterbury. He is praised in the writings of St. Bede for his extensive travels and labours in favour of the unity and harmony of the Church in England.
St. Marianus, hermit (†sixth century). From an illustrious family of Bourges, France, he left the world to become a hermit in Berry, living thenceforth on only wild fruits and honey.
St. Charles Hyon Sŏng-mun martyr (†1846). Catechist who worked assiduously for the the entrance of missionaries into Korea. He was imprisoned and beheaded along with other Christians.
St. Frithuswith, virgin and abbess (†735). An English princess, she fled marriage with a neighbouring prince and founded a convent dedicated to the Blessed Virgin in Oxford. She is the patroness of the city of Oxford and its university.
St. Maria of Cervelló, virgin (†1290). The first Mercedarian nun. She was untiring in her care of the poor and sick.
St. Marie Emilie de Rodat, virgin and foundress (†1852). She founded the Congregation of the Holy Family in Villefranche, France, for the formation of youth. She was a great devotee of the Holy Mass and of the Via Sacra. She combatted the Jansenist spirit which, under guise of humility, discouraged the frequent reception of the Eucharist.
Blessed Francisca Cualladó Baixauli, virgin and martyr (†1936). A lay seamstress, she prayed the Rosary and partook in the Eucharist daily. She was executed by firing squad in Benifaiós (Spain) during the Spanish Civil War.
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