Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
St. Vincent de Paul, priest (†1660). Becoming established in Paris, he dedicated himself entirely to the apostolate with the poor. He founded the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists) and, together with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ezr 9:5-9
At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness, and with cloak and mantle torn I fell on my knees, stretching out my hands to the LORD, my God. I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to You, O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads and our guilt reaches up to heaven. From the time of our fathers even to this day great has been our guilt, and for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up, we and our kings and our priests, to the will of the kings of foreign lands, to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace, as is the case today. “And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God, who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in His holy place; thus our God has brightened our eyes and given us relief in our servitude. For slaves we are, but in our servitude our God has not abandoned us; rather, He has turned the good will of the kings of Persia toward us. Thus He has given us new life to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins, and has granted us a fence in Judah and Jerusalem.”
Responsorial Psalm – Tobit 13:2, 3-4a, 4befghn, 7-8 (R.1b)
R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
He scourges and then has mercy;
He casts down to the depths of the nether world,
and He brings up from the great abyss.
No one can escape His hand. R.
Praise Him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles,
for though He has scattered you among them,
He has shown you His greatness even there. R.
So now consider what He has done for you,
and praise Him with full voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness,
and exalt the King of ages. R.
In the land of my exile I praise Him
and show His power and majesty to a sinful nation. R.
Bless the Lord, all you His chosen ones,
and may all of you praise His majesty.
Celebrate days of gladness, and give Him praise. R.
Gospel – Lk 9:1-6
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Featured Saints
St. Bonfilius, bishop (†c.1115). After having governed the see of Foligno, Italy, he spent ten years in the Holy Land; upon his return he retired to the monastery of Storaco, where he died.
St. Elzear of Sabran (†1323). Baron of Ansouis, commander of troops, defender of the Pope, he, together with Blessed Delphie, his spouse, preserved his virginity and practised all the virtues, following the rule of the Franciscan Third Order.
Sts. Adolphus and John, martrys (+824). They were the sons of a Muslim and a Christian. For refusing to renounce their Faith, the were martyred in Cordoba during the reign of Abd al-Rahman II.
St. Hiltrude, virgin (†c.800). She consecrated herself to God and spent seventeen years in recollection near the Benedictine abbey of Liesseis, France, of which her brother was abbot.
Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta, priest (†1456). Dominican religious of the monastery of Pistoia, Italy, who observed religious discipline for sixty years and dedicated himself to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Blessed Jean-Baptiste Laborier du Vivier, deacon and martyr (†1794). During the French Revolution, he was condemned to cruel captivity on a ship in the harbour of Rochefort, where he died from illness resulting from the deplorable conditions.
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