Friday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Tm 6:2c-12
Beloved: Teach and urge these things. Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain. Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast. R.
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction. R.
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down. R.
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light. 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. Maurice and companions, martyrs, (third century). St. Maurice commanded the Roman Theban Legion, which was made up of Christians. Ordered to sacrifice to idos, they refused, and were killed by the sword.
St. Silvanus of Levroux, French hermit, (fifth century).
St. Salaberga, abbess (c.664). As a child, she was cured of blindness by St. Columban, who led her to the service of God. She was abbess of the monastery of St. John the Baptist in Laon (France).
St. Emmeram of Regensburg, bishop (†690).
St. Ignatius of Santhià (Vercelli), priest (†1770). ). Italian Capuchin, he was as untiring in the confessional as he was in serving the poor and sick.
Blessed Otto, Bispo (†1158). A Cistercian monk, he never relinquished his religious habit, even after being appointed Bishop of Freising, Germany. He adopted the Gregorian reform.
Blessed Joseph Marchandon, priest and martyr (†1794). Pastor of Marsac, France, he was imprisoned during the French Revolution in a galley in Rochefort, where he fell ill and died of starvation.
Blessed Maria de la Purifición Vidal Pastor, virgin and martyr (†1936). A fervent Catholic, she was outstanding for her care of the sick, as well as for her participation in religious ceremonies. During the Spanish Civil War, she was arrested and killed along a highway in Valencia, and buried while still agonizing.
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