Saturday 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 – Eccl 11:9—12:8
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment. Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; Before the sun is darkened, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17 (R.1)
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night. R.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades. R.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants! R.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands! R.
Gospel – Lk 9:43B-45
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
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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