Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church (†604 Rome). Born in Rome around the year 540. He rose through various public offices to the prefecture which he renounced. He entered the monastic life and, once ordained deacon, he discharged the duty of legate at Constantinople. On September 3, 590, he was elevated to the Chair of Peter during a time of great tribulation due to the Lombard invasions. He proved to be a true shepherd in carrying out this office, helping the poor and strengthening the faith. He wrote numerous moral and theological works, combated the Nestorian heresy and worked for the reform of the clergy and monastic life. Pope Gregory I also promoted missions, notably the evangelization of the British Isles, and is attributed with establishing the schola cantorum in Rome and contributing decisively to the liturgical chant of the Church, which bears his name. He died on March 12, 604. See excerpts of select Homilies of St. Gregory the Great.
Other Featured Saints
St. Marinus, deacon (†fourth century). He preached in the region of Rimini and withdrew to Mount Titan, where he founded a village that would give rise to the Republic of San Marino.
St. Remaclus, bishop and abbot (†c. 671- 679). While still young, he was elected abbot of Solignac, France. He founded the monasteries of Stavelot and Malmedy.
St. John Pak Hu-jae and companions, martyrs (†1839). Condemned by Korean tribunals for their ardent confession of the Catholic Faith. After prolonged torture, they were beheaded in Seoul.
Blessed Bartholomew Gutierrez – Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Puebla (Mexico)
Blessed Bartholomew Gutierrez, priest, and five companions, martyrs (†1632). For their Christian Faith, they were tortured and burned alive in Nagasaki (Japan).
Blessed Guala of Brescia, bishop (†1244). Dominican friar appointed Bishop of Brescia, he fought for peace at the time of Emperor Frederick II. He withdrew to the monastery of Astino, Italy, where he remained until the end of his life.
Blessed Bridget of Jesus Morello, religious (†1679). After becoming a widow, she dedicated herself to penance and works of charity. She founded the Congregation of the Ursuline Sisters of Mary Immaculate, for the education of girls.
Mass Readings
First reading: Col 1:15-20
Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 (R.2b)
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song. R.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends. R.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name. R.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations. R.
Gospel Lk 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink.”
Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.”
And he also told them a parable.
“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
