Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
(†1654) He was a 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 2:6-15
Brothers and sisters: As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross; despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.
Responsorial Psalm – PS 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever. R.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. R.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might. R.
Gospel – Lk 6:12-19
Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.
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). He 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.