Monday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ezra 1:1-6
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with free-will offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.'” Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites– everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so– prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. All their neighbors gave them help in every way, with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, and with many precious gifts besides all their free-will offerings.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 (R.3)
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing. R.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed. R.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing. R.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves. R.
Gospel – LK 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
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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