Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Optional Memorial of: St. Peter Claver, priest (†1654). Jesuit born in Spain, who exercised his ministry in Cartagena, Colombia. For forty years, he dedicated himself with great compassion and charity to the spiritual assistance of African slaves. He was proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII as Patron of missions among African peoples. (Memorial in USA.)
Mass Readings
First Reading – Col 1:21-23
Brothers and sisters: You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body of Christ through His death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before Him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 54:3-4, 6 and 8 (R.6)
R. God himself is my help.
O God, by Your name save me,
and by Your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth. R.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer You sacrifice;
I will praise Your name, O LORD, for its goodness. R.
Gospel – Lk 6:1-5
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
Featured Saints
Blessed George Douglas, priest and martyr (†1587). Scottish priest condemned to death in York, for refusing to recognize Elizabeth I as the supreme head of the Church in England.
Blessed Pierre Bonhomme, priest (†1861). Distinguished himself by his popular missions and evangelization of farmers in France. He founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Calvary, to care for youth, the sick and the needy.
St. Kieran, abbot (†549). One of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” who studied at Clonard Abbey under St. Finian, he there acquired fame for his holiness and wisdom, and later founded the Monastery of Clonmacnoise which became an important centre of learning and religious life.
Blessed James Desiré Laval, priest (†1864). French physician, he was ordained a priest and went as a missionary to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
Blessed Francisco Gárate Aranguren, religious (†1929). Jesuit lay brother; he served as porter for 42 years at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain.
Blessed Maria de la Cabeza, laywoman (†Twelfth century). Spouse of St. Isidore the Labourer, patron of Madrid. A model wife and mother, especially for her piety, patience and charity.
Blessed Maria Euthymia,virgin (†1955). Religious from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy; she served God by serving the sick during the Second World War. She died in Münster, Germany.
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