Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, martyrs (†303). Syrian physicians martyred in Syrrhus, Syria. They practised medicine for charity, free of charge. (Celebrated September 25 in Canada).
Mass Readings
First Reading – Haggai 2:1-9
In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: Tell this to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people:Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes? But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD, and take courage, Joshua, high priest, son of Jehozadak, And take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work! For I am with you, says the LORD of hosts. This is the pact that I made with you when you came out of Egypt, And my spirit continues in your midst; do not fear! For thus says the LORD of hosts: One moment yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come in, And I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the LORD of hosts. Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the LORD of hosts; And in this place I will give you peace, says the LORD of hosts!
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 43:1, 2, 3, 4 (R.5)
R. Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight
against a faithless people;
from the deceitful and impious man rescue me. R.
For you, O God, are my strength.
Why do you keep me so far away?
Why must I go about in mourning,
with the enemy oppressing me? R.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwellingplace. R.
Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God! R.
Gospel – Lk 9:18-22
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Featured Saints
In Canada: Feast of Sts. Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, martyrs. (Celebrated on October 19 in the General Calendar) Eight Jesuit missionaries from France who evangelized among the native peoples of North America, particularly of the Huron tribe, and were captured, tortured and killed by the Iroquois on various dates over a seven-year period.
St. Gideon, judge of Israel. From the tribe of Manasseh, he delivered the chosen people from the Midianites.
St. Eusebius of Bologna, bishop (†fourth century). He fought Arianism with St. Ambrose of Milan, and strove to promote the value of virginity among youth.
St. Nilus, abbot (†1005). Born to an eminent family of Rossano, Italy, he renounced the world, and embraced the monastic life, living at several different monasteries, and times as a hermit. He founded the monastery of Grottaferrata, where he established a school of calligraphy for the copying of sacred texts.
St. Terese Couderc, virgin (†1885). Foundress of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle in Lalouvesc, France.
Blessed Kaspar Stangassinger, priest (†1899). Redemptorist priest, dedicated to the education of youth. He died at the age of 28, in Gars, Germany, where he was director of the minor seminary.
Blessed Luigi Tezza, priest (†1923). Founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Camillus in Rome. He died on mission in Peru.
Blessed Lucy of Caltagirone,virgin (†1400). Franciscan tertiary who died in Salerno, Italy. She stood out for her fidelity to the Rule and devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ.
Sts. Lucy Kim, and Catherine Yi, widows, and Magdalena Cho, virgin, martyrs (†1839). For their faith in Christ, they died victims of terrible torments in Seul, Korea.
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