Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorials: St. Wenceslas, martyr († 929). Duke of Bohemia, his formation in the Catholic Faith was diligently carried out by his grandmother, St. Ludmila. He strove for the Christian formation of his subjects. He was murdered as he entered a church by men instigated by his own brother Boleslaus; and St. Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs(†1637). From the Order of St. Dominic, they preached the Christian Faith in the Philippines, Taiwan and in the Japanese Archipelago. These 16 Saints shed their blood for their Faith in Nagasaki, Japan.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Hg 1:1-8
On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak: Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people says: “The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” (Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:) Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house That I may take pleasure in it and receive My glory, says the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b (R.see 4a)
R. The Lord takes delight in His people.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R.
Let them praise His name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to Him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves His people,
and He adorns the lowly with victory. R.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all His faithful. Alleluia. R.
Gospel – Lk 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.
Featured Saints
St. Leoba, virgin (†c. de 782). Benedictine nun, born to a noble family in Wessex, England, a kinswoman of St. Boniface. At his request, she travelled to Germany in 748, with St. Thecla and other English religious to collaborate in the evangelization in those lands. She was abbess of the monastery of Tauberbischofsheim.
St. Simon of Rojas, priest (+1624). Trinitarian religious, confessor of Queen Isabella of Bourbon and preceptor of the Infantes of Spain. Amidst the splendour of the Spanish court, he preserved his humility, and showed great mercy to the poor.
St. Eustochium, virgin (†419). From the Roman aristocracy by birth. With her mother, St. Paula, she became a spiritual daughter of St. Jerome, following him to the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, she was dedicated to scriptural work for St. Jerome, assisting him in the translation of the Vulgate.
Blessed Nicetas Budka, bishop and martyr (†1949). Auxiliary bishop of Lviv, of the Ukrainians, he was deported to a concentration camp in Kazakhstan, where he endured hardships with great inner strength, for love of Christ.
Blessed Bernardine of Feltre, priest (†1494). Franciscan religious who promoted the foundation of provident societies to combat usury, which was widespread at the time. He died in Pavia, Italy, at age fifty-five.
Blessed Amalia Abad Casasempere, martyr (†1936). Mother of a family, outstanding for her Catholic militancy, she was imprisoned and killed by militiamen in Benillup (Spain) during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War.
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