Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 02-08-19, OM, St. Jerome Emiliani, St. Josephine Bakhita

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body. Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers. Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you. Thus we may say with confidence:

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abcR. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust.

For he will hide me in his abode in the day of trouble; He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock.

Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him." Others were saying, "He is Elijah"; still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets." But when Herod learned of it, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up."

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you." He even swore many things to her, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom."

She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" Her mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request, "I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Jerome Emiliani, please go here.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita, please go here.

From: Hebrews 13:1-8

Duties Towards Others — Charity, Hospitality, Fidelity in Marriage

[1] Let brotherly love continue. [2] Do not neglect to show hospitality to stran-
gers,’ for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. [3] Remember those
who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated,
since you also are in the body. [4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and
let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous.
[5] Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for
he has said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” [6] Hence we can confidently
say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?”

Religious Duties — Obeying Lawful Pastors; Religious Worship

[7] Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider
the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. [8] Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and for ever.

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Commentary:

1-3. The teaching on moral questions which takes up this chapter follows on lo-
gically from the trend of the whole letter, particularly the previous chapter: faith-
fulness to Christ means being faithful to him as a person and to his teaching. As
he himself said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15).
Among the essential teachings of our faith is the supreme importance of charity:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have
loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35). As Tertullian attests,
pagans bore witness to how well the early Christians practised this virtue, when
they would say, “See how they love one another: they are ready to die for one
another” (”Apologeticum”, 39).

Brotherly love expresses itself in all kinds of ways. One of them is hospitality,
which is one of the traditional corporal works of mercy. The virtue of hospitality is
given high praise in this passage which contains implicit references to episodes
in the life of Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18), Lot (cf. Gen 19), Manoah (cf. Judg
13:3-22) or Tobit (cf. Job 12:1-20), who gave hospitality to wayfarers who turned
out to be angels. Similarly, Christians who practise this virtue are in fact welco-
ming Christ himself (cf. Mt 25:40). They should also see Christ in everyone who
is experiencing any kind of suffering. “He himself is the one who in each individual
experiences love; he himself is the one who receives help, when this is given to
every suffering person without exception. He himself is present in this suffering
person, since his salvific suffering has been opened once and for all to every hu-
man suffering” (John Paul II, “Salvifici Doloris”, 30).

4. For anyone to practise charity towards God and towards others, the virtue of
chastity is essential. It expands one’s capacity for love. The text earnestly ex-
horts Christians to show their appreciation of marriage by practising marital
chastity. Marriage is a personal calling by God to seek holiness in that state
in life. “In God’s plan, all husbands and wives are called in marriage to holiness,
and this lofty vocation is fulfilled to the extent that the human person is able to
respond to God’s command with serene confidence in God’s grace and in his
or her own will” (John Paul II, “Familiaris Consortio”, 34).

However, this also calls for marital chastity, which is a manifestation and proof
of true love. “Human love — pure, sincere and joyful — cannot subsist in marriage
without the virtue of chastity, which leads a couple to respect the mystery of sex
and ordain it to faithfulness and personal dedication [...].

“When there is chastity in the love of married persons, their marital life is authen-
tic; husband and wife are true to themselves, they understand each other and
develop the union between them. When the divine gift of sex is perverted their
intimacy is destroyed, and they can no longer look openly at one another” (St
J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 25).

5-6. In teaching against love of money and exaggerated desire for material things,
the text may be echoing what our Lord said: “Do not lay up for yourselves trea-
sures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and
steal, but lay up treasures in heaven [...]” (Mt 6:19-20). The epistle is encoura-
ging us to trust God at all times and to be detached from earthly things. “Detach
yourself from the goods of the world. Love and practise poverty of spirit: be con-
tent with what enables you to live a simple and sober life [...]” (St J. Escriva,
“The Way”, 631).

It uses some words spoken by Moses on God’s behalf to remind the reader that
it is God himself who has told man that he will never abandon him (cf. Deut 31:6).
These words should fill us with consolation, allowing us to say with the psalmist
(cf. Ps 118:6) that we can do anything provided God helps us, and there is no-
thing for us to fear provided we abandon ourselves to divine providence (cf. Mt
6:25-32).

“If Christ is yours, then wealth is yours; he satisfies all your wants. He will look
after you, manage all your affairs for you most dutifully; you will need no human
support to rely on [...]. Put all your trust in God; center in him all your fear and
all your love; he will make himself responsible for you, and all will go well as he
sees best” (”The Imitation of Christ”, 1, 2-3).

7-19. In this passage this more practical section of the epistle examines specifi-
cally ecclesial duties, placing special emphasis on the Christian’s duty to main-
tain unity with and to obey and respect those have the mission to govern the
community. This exhortation is made twice (vv. 7 and 17) to show the importance
of obedience to lawful pastors(cf. 1 Thess 5:12-13; 1 Cor 16:16). We should see
in the pastors of the Church a model of how we should practise the faith (v. 7; cf.
Phil 3:17), and in particular we should see them as Christ’s representatives (cf.
Gal 4:12-14). Obedience to the hierarchy of the Church naturally involves accep-
ting its teaching and eschewing heretical opinions (v. 9; cf. 1 Tim 6:3; Gal 1:6-9).
Unity of faith, moreover, has to be expressed in unity of worship (v. 10; cf. Phil
3:3; Eph 4:4-5): no one may take part in Christian worship while continuing to
take part in Jewish worship (cf. 1 Cor 10:16-21), nor is it lawful to regard rabbini-
cal rules about food as still applying (v. 9; Col 2:16-18; 1 Tim 4:3-5). One needs
to undergo a real conversion (vv. 11-13; Rom 3:23-26) and to put aside outdated
rites and practices if one is to share in Christ’s Cross (1 Cor 2:21-25; Gal 6:14-
15). We must not put our trust in earthly things, but instead bear in mind that
our end and goal is heaven (cf. Phil 3:20). Finally, unity of faith, discipline and
sacraments must express itself in a consistent, coherent lifestyle whereby we
are always in the presence of God, use everything as an opportunity for prayer
and sacrifice, and practise a continuous charity towards others (vv. 15-16; cf.
Gal 6:9-10; Rom 12:9-13; Eph 5:1-2; etc.). This short passage gives a very at-
tractive outline of what Christian life involves. As Vatican II put it, “A life like this
calls for a continuous exercise of faith, hope and charity. Only the light of faith
and meditation on the Word of God can enable us to find everywhere and always
the God ‘in whom we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28); only thus
can we seek his will in everything, see Christ in all men, acquaintance or stran-
ger, and make sound judgments on the true meaning and value of temporal
realities both in themselves and in relation to man’s end” (Apostolicam Actuosi-
tatem, 2).

7-14. The sacred text emphasizes the need to be at one with those in charge,
the pastors and teachers of the Christian communities. Reference, in the past
tense, to their faith suggests it is referring to those who have already obtained
the crown of martyrdom—people like Stephen and St James the Greater (cf. Acts
7:59-60; 12:2), and other members of the community who were victims of Jewish
persecution (cf. Acts 8:1; Heb 6:10; 10:32-34). They were admirable people; how-
ever, unity with one’s leaders was not and is not conditional on the personal qua-
lity of these leaders: “What a pity that whoever is in charge doesn’t give you good
example! But, is it for his personal qualities that you obey him? (cf. Acts 7:59-60;
12:2), and other members of the community who were victims of Jewish persecu-
tion (cf. Acts 8:1; Heb 6:10; 10:32-34). They were admirable people; however,
unity with one’s leaders was not and is not conditional on the personal quality of
these leaders: “What a pity that whoever is in charge doesn’t give you good exam-
ple! But, is it for his personal qualities that you obey him? Or do you conveniently
interpret Saint Paul’s “obedite praepositis vestris”: obey your leaders’ with a qua-
lification of your own ..., ‘always provided they have virtues to my taste’?” (St J.
Escriva, “The Way”, 621). Faithfulness to and solidarity with one’s lawful pas-
tors is faithfulness towards Christ himself, for the “bishops, as vicars and legates
of Christ, govern the particular churches assigned to them by their counsels, ex-
hortations and example, but over and above that also by the authority and sacred
power which indeed they exercise exclusively for the spiritual development of their
flock in truth and holiness, keeping in mind that he who is greater should become
as the lesser, and he who is the leader as the servant (cf. Lk 22:26-27)” (Vatican
II, “Lumen Gentium” 27). Thus, it is rightly said that he who hears them hears
Christ (cf. Lk 10:16). For their part, pastors should have the same love and solici-
tude for those in their charge as our Redeemer had; in this wonderful unity of cha-
rity the mystery of Christ will shine forth; it is Christ’s right “to be the sole ruler of
the Church; and for this reason also he is likened to the Head. The head (to use
the words of St Ambrose) is ‘the royal citadel’ of the body (”Hexameron”, VI, 9,
55), and because it was endowed with more perfect gifts it naturally rules all the
members, being purposely placed above them to have them under its care. In like
manner the divine Redeemer wields the supreme power and government over the
whole commonwealth of Christians” (Pius XII, “Mystici Corporis”, 16).

The mystery of the Incarnation is indissolubly linked to the mystery of the Church,
in such a way that the unity of the Church is a sign of the unity of the Lord’s Body,
which is one body with many different members (cf. 1 Cor 12:1-12; “Lumen Gen-
tium”, 7). Therefore, fidelity to the Church derives not from human reasons but
from a desire to be faithful to Christ himself.

Fidelity to Christ, his preaching, to his commandments and the sacraments he
instituted leads to loving fulfillment of everything the Church lays down with re-
gard to worship—particularly to interior practice of the faith, repentance for sin
and fervent reception of the sacraments (cf. Council of Trent, “De Iustificatione”,
chaps. 6 and 8; Rom 3:22-24; 11:16; Eph 2:8; 1 Cor 4:7-15:10 2 Cor 3:5). There
are no clean or unclean foods (cf. Col 2:16; Rom i4:2-4) whether they are offered
to idols or not (cf. 1 Cor 8; 10:14-33), whether they are eaten or abstained from
on certain days (cf. Rom 14:5; Col 2:16; Gal 4:10); there is no food which rea-
ders a person unclean or leads him to salvation (cf. Mk 7:15, 18; Rom 14:17,
20): for one whose heart is pure all things are pure (cf. Tit 1:15). The important
thing is the grace of God, which is given us in the sacraments and which ena-
bles us to practise all the commandments out of love for God. The letter moves
from these remarks about legal purity and impurity to point out that there is now
an entirely new situation and what really matters is sharing in the paschal mys-
tery of Christ, that is, in his passion, death and resurrection.

8. This verse expresses the foundation of the life of every Christian. It is a won-
derful expression of faith constituting an act of adoration and reverence similar to
the praise of the one God in Deuteronomy 6:4 (”The Lord our God is one Lord”)
or of the eternal God in Psalm 102:12 (”Thou, O Lord, art enthroned for ever; thy
name endures to all generations”), only here it is Jesus Christ who is being ex-
tolled. Though their first teachers and guides may have died to bear witness to
their faith, Christians will always have a teacher and guide who will never die,
who lives for ever crowned with glory. Men come and go but Jesus remains for
ever. He exists from all eternity, he is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End (cf. Rev 1:8; 22:13); he lived “yesterday” among men in a specific
period of history; he lives “today” in heaven, at the right hand of the Father, and
he is “today”, at our side providing us with grace and forever interceding for us
(cf. Mt 28:20; Heb 4:14); he will remain “for ever” as High Priest and Redeemer
(cf. Heb 6:20; 7:17) until he establishes his Kingdom and hands it to his Father
(cf. 1 Cor 15:24-28).

It is moving to think that Christ did not take on human nature for a limited period
only. The Incarnation was decreed from all eternity, and the Son of God, born of
the Virgin Mary, in time and space, in the reign of Caesar Augustus, remains a
man for ever, with a glorious body bearing the resplendent marks of his passion.
In Christ’s human nature, now indissolubly joined to the divine person of the Son,
all Creation is in some way glorified (cf. Col 1:15-20; Eph 1:9-10). Therefore, we
can be absolutely sure that Christ’s teaching cannot change: it is as immutable
as he is and it will eventually transform the world. We know that all dimensions
of human life—work, family life, life in society, affections, suffering—acquire in
Christ a new and lasting purpose. “The Church believes that Christ, who died
and was raised for the sake of all, can show man the way and strengthen him

through the Spirit in order to be worthy of his destiny: nor is there any other name
under heaven given among men by which they can be saved. The Church likewise
believes that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man’s history is
to be found in its Lord and Master. She also maintains that beneath all that chan-
ges there is much that is unchanging, much that has its ultimate foundation in
Christ, who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Vatican II, “Gaudium
Et Spes”, 10). This is the source of the Christian’s confidence. “Jesus is the way.
Behind him on this earth of ours he has left the clear outlines of his footprints.
They are indelible signs which neither the erosion of time nor the treachery of the
evil one have been able to erase. “Iesus Christus herd et hodie; ipse et in saecula”.
How I love to recall these words! Jesus Christ, the very Jesus who was alive yes-
terday for his Apostles and the people who sought him out—this same Jesus lives
today for us, and will live forever” (St J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 127).

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 6:14-29

Opinions About Jesus

[14] King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said,
“John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are
at work with Him.” [15] But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a
prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” [16] But when Herod heard of it, he
said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

John the Baptist Beheaded

[17] For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake
of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. [18] For John
said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” [19] And Hero-
dias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, [20]
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept
him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him
gladly. [21] But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet
for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. [22] For when Hero-
dias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the
king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” [23] And
he said to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”

[24] And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said,
“The head of John the Baptizer.” [25] And she came in immediately with haste
to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John
the Baptizer on a platter.” [26] And the King was exceedingly sorry; but because
of his oath and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. [27] And im-
mediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head.
He went and beheaded him in the prison, [28] and brought his head on a platter,
and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When his disciples
heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

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Commentary:

16-29. It is interesting that the extensive account of the death of John the Baptist
is inserted here in the Gospel narrative. The reason is St. John the Baptist’s spe-
cial relevance in the history of salvation: he is the Precursor, entrusted with the
task of preparing the way for the Messiah. Besides, John the Baptist had a great
reputation among the people: they believed him to be a prophet (Mark 11:32);
some even thought he was the Messiah (Luke 3:15; John 1:20); and they flocked
to him from many places (Mark 1:5). Jesus Himself said: “Among those born of
women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
Later, the Apostle St. John will speak of him in the Gospel: “There was a man
sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6); but the sacred text points out
that, despite this, he was not the light, but rather the witness to the light (John 1:
6-8). More correctly, he was the lamp carrying the light (John 5:35). We are told
here that he was a righteous man and preached to everyone what had to be
preached: he had a word for people at large, for publicans, for soldiers (Luke 3:10-
14); for Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7-12); for King Herod himself (Mark
6:18-20). This humble, upright and austere man paid with his life for the witness
he bore to Jesus the Messiah (John 1:29 and 36-37).

26. Oaths and promises immoral in content should never be made, and, if made,
should never be kept. This is the teaching of the Church, which is summed up
in the “St. Pius X Catechism”, 383, in the following way: “Are we obliged to keep
oaths we have sworn to do unjust and unlawful things? Not only are we not ob-
liged: we sin by making such oaths, for they are prohibited by the Law of God or
of the Church.”

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading
Hebrews 13:1-8 ©
Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and will be for ever
Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the one body. Marriage is to be honoured by all, and marriages are to be kept undefiled, because fornicators and adulterers will come under God’s judgement. Put greed out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?
Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 26(27):1,3,5,8-9 ©
The Lord is my light and my help.
The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?
The Lord is my light and my help.
Though an army encamp against me
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me
even then would I trust.
The Lord is my light and my help.
For there he keeps me safe in his tent
in the day of evil.
He hides me in the shelter of his tent,
on a rock he sets me safe.
The Lord is my light and my help.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.
The Lord is my light and my help.

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Lk8:15
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Mark 6:14-29 ©
The beheading of John the Baptist
King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.’
Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

On February 8, the Church commemorates the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan.

Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869, in a small village in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was kidnapped while working in the fields with her family and subsequently sold into slavery. Her captors asked for her name but she was too terrified to remember so they named her “Bakhita,” which means “fortunate” in Arabic.

Retrospectively, Bakhita was very fortunate, but the first years of her life do not necessarily attest to it. She was tortured by her various owners who branded her, beat and cut her. In her biography she notes one particularly terrifying moment when one of her masters cut her 114 times and poured salt in her wounds to ensure that the scars remained. “I felt I was going to die any moment, especially when they rubbed me in with the salt,” Bakhita wrote.

She bore her suffering valiantly though she did not know Christ or the redemptive nature of suffering. She also had a certain awe for the world and its creator. “Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: 'Who could be the Master of these beautiful things?' And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage.”

After being sold a total of five times, Bakhita was purchased by Callisto Legnani, the Italian consul in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Two years later, he took Bakhita to Italy to work as a nanny for his colleague, Augusto Michieli. He, in turn, sent Bakhita to accompany his daughter to a school in Venice run by the Canossian Sisters.

Bakhita felt called to learn more about the Church, and was baptized with the name “Josephine Margaret.” In the meantime, Michieli wanted to take Josephine and his daughter back to Sudan, but Josephine refused to return.

The disagreement escalated and was taken to the Italian courts where it was ruled that Josephine could stay in Italy because she was a free woman. Slavery was not recognized in Italy and it had also been illegal in Sudan since before Josephine had been born.

Josephine remained in Italy and decided to enter Canossians in 1893. She made her profession in 1896 and was sent to Northern Italy, where she dedicated her life to assisting her community and teaching others to love God.

She was known for her smile, gentleness and holiness. She even went on record saying, “If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today.”

St. Josephine was beatified in 1992 and canonized shortly after on October 2000 by Pope John Paul II. She is the first person to be canonized from Sudan and is the patron saint of the country.

Prayer to St. Josephine Bakhita

St. Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child
and endured untold hardship and suffering.
Once liberated from your physical enslavement,
you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church.

O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery;
Intercede with God on their behalf
so that they will be released from their chains of captivity.
Those whom man enslaves, let God set free.

Provide comfort to survivors of slavery
and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith.
Help all survivors find healing from their wounds.
We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us.

Amen.

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 6
14.	And king Herod heard, (for his name was made manifest,) and he said: John the Baptist is risen again from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him.	Et audivit rex Herodes (manifestum enim factum est nomen ejus), et dicebat : Quia Joannes Baptista resurrexit a mortuis : et propterea virtutes operantur in illo.	και ηκουσεν ο βασιλευς ηρωδης φανερον γαρ εγενετο το ονομα αυτου και ελεγεν οτι ιωαννης ο βαπτιζων εκ νεκρων ηγερθη και δια τουτο ενεργουσιν αι δυναμεις εν αυτω
15.	And others said: It is Elias. But others said: It is a prophet, as one of the prophets.	Alii autem dicebant : Quia Elias est ; alii vero dicebant : Quia propheta est, quasi unus ex prophetis.	αλλοι ελεγον οτι ηλιας εστιν αλλοι δε ελεγον οτι προφητης εστιν ως εις των προφητων
16.	Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.	Quo audito Herodes ait : Quem ego decollavi Joannem, hic a mortuis resurrexit.	ακουσας δε [ο] ηρωδης ειπεν οτι ον εγω απεκεφαλισα ιωαννην ουτος εστιν αυτος ηγερθη εκ νεκρων
17.	For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.	Ipse enim Herodes misit, ac tenuit Joannem, et vinxit eum in carcere propter Herodiadem uxorem Philippi fratris sui, quia duxerat eam.	αυτος γαρ ο ηρωδης αποστειλας εκρατησεν τον ιωαννην και εδησεν αυτον εν φυλακη δια ηρωδιαδα την γυναικα φιλιππου του αδελφου αυτου οτι αυτην εγαμησεν
18.	For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.	Dicebat enim Joannes Herodi : Non licet tibi habere uxorem fratris tui.	ελεγεν γαρ ο ιωαννης τω ηρωδη οτι ουκ εξεστιν σοι εχειν την γυναικα του αδελφου σου
19.	Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death, and could not.	Herodias autem insidiabatur illi : et volebat occidere eum, nec poterat.	η δε ηρωδιας ενειχεν αυτω και ηθελεν αυτον αποκτειναι και ουκ ηδυνατο
20.	For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.	Herodes enim metuebat Joannem, sciens eum virum justum et sanctum : et custodiebat eum, et audito eo multa faciebat, et libenter eum audiebat.	ο γαρ ηρωδης εφοβειτο τον ιωαννην ειδως αυτον ανδρα δικαιον και αγιον και συνετηρει αυτον και ακουσας αυτου πολλα εποιει και ηδεως αυτου ηκουεν
21.	And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.	Et cum dies opportunus accidisset, Herodes natalis sui cœnam fecit principibus, et tribunis, et primis Galilææ :	και γενομενης ημερας ευκαιρου οτε ηρωδης τοις γενεσιοις αυτου δειπνον εποιει τοις μεγιστασιν αυτου και τοις χιλιαρχοις και τοις πρωτοις της γαλιλαιας
22.	And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.	cumque introisset filia ipsius Herodiadis, et saltasset, et placuisset Herodi, simulque recumbentibus, rex ait puellæ : Pete a me quod vis, et dabo tibi :	και εισελθουσης της θυγατρος αυτης της ηρωδιαδος και ορχησαμενης και αρεσασης τω ηρωδη και τοις συνανακειμενοις ειπεν ο βασιλευς τω κορασιω αιτησον με ο εαν θελης και δωσω σοι
23.	And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.	et juravit illi : Quia quidquid petieris dabo tibi, licet dimidium regni mei.	και ωμοσεν αυτη οτι ο εαν με αιτησης δωσω σοι εως ημισους της βασιλειας μου
24.	Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said: The head of John the Baptist.	Quæ cum exisset, dixit matri suæ : Quid petam ? At illa dixit : Caput Joannis Baptistæ.	η δε εξελθουσα ειπεν τη μητρι αυτης τι αιτησομαι η δε ειπεν την κεφαλην ιωαννου του βαπτιστου
25.	And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.	Cumque introisset statim cum festinatione ad regem, petivit dicens : Volo ut protinus des mihi in disco caput Joannis Baptistæ.	και εισελθουσα ευθεως μετα σπουδης προς τον βασιλεα ητησατο λεγουσα θελω ινα μοι δως εξαυτης επι πινακι την κεφαλην ιωαννου του βαπτιστου
26.	And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:	Et contristatus est rex : propter jusjurandum, et propter simul discumbentes, noluit eam contristare :	και περιλυπος γενομενος ο βασιλευς δια τους ορκους και τους συνανακειμενους ουκ ηθελησεν αυτην αθετησαι
27.	But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.	sed misso speculatore præcepit afferri caput ejus in disco. Et decollavit eum in carcere,	και ευθεως αποστειλας ο βασιλευς σπεκουλατορα επεταξεν ενεχθηναι την κεφαλην αυτου
28.	And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.	et attulit caput ejus in disco : et dedit illud puellæ, et puella dedit matri suæ.	ο δε απελθων απεκεφαλισεν αυτον εν τη φυλακη και ηνεγκεν την κεφαλην αυτου επι πινακι και εδωκεν αυτην τω κορασιω και το κορασιον εδωκεν αυτην τη μητρι αυτης
29.	Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.	Quo audito, discipuli ejus venerunt, et tulerunt corpus ejus : et posuerunt illud in monumento.	και ακουσαντες οι μαθηται αυτου ηλθον και ηραν το πτωμα αυτου και εθηκαν αυτο εν μνημειω

14. And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.
15. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
16. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

GLOSS. After the preaching of the disciples of Christ, and the working of miracles, the Evangelist subjoins an account of the report, which arose amongst the people; wherefore he says, And king Herod heard of him.

PSEUD-CHRYS. This Herod is the son of the first Herod, under whom Joseph had led Jesus into Egypt. But Matthew calls him Tetrarch, and Luke mentions him as ruling over one fourth of his father's kingdom; for the Romans after the death of his father divided his kingdom into four parts. But Mark calls him a king, either after the title of his father, or because it was on consonant to his own wish.

PSEUDO-JEROME; It goes on, For his name spread abroad. For it is not right that a candle should be placed under a bushel. And they said, that is, some of the multitude, that John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show themselves forth in him.

BEDE; Here we are taught how great great the envy of the Jews. For, lo, they believe that John, of whom it was said that he did no miracle, could rise from the dead, and that, without the witness of anyone. But Jesus, approved of God by miracles and signs, whose resurrection, Angels and Apostles, men and women, preached, they chose to believe was carried away by stealth, rather than suppose that He had risen again. And these men, in saying that John was risen from the dead, and that therefore mighty works were wrought in him, had just thoughts of the power of the resurrection, for men, when they shall have risen from the dead, shall have much greater power, than they possessed, when still weighed down by the weakness of the flesh. There follows, But others said that it was Elias.

THEOPHYL; For John confuted many men, when he said, You generation of vipers. It goes on, But other said, that it is a prophet or as one of the prophets.

PSEUD-CHRYS. It seems to me that this prophet means that one of whom Moses said, God will raise up a prophet to you of your brethren. They were right indeed, but because they feared to say openly, This is the Christ, they used the voice of Moses, veiling their own surmise through fear of their rulers. There follows, But when Herod heard thereof; he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: He is risen from the dead. Herod expressly says, this in irony.

THEOPHYL. Or else, Herod, knowing that he without a cause had slain John, who was a just man, thought that he had risen from the dead, and had received through his resurrection the power of working miracles.

AUG. But in these words Luke bears witness to Mark to this point at least, that others and not Herod said that John had risen but Luke had represented Herod as hesitating and has put down his words as if he said, John have I beheaded, but who is this of hear such things? We must however suppose, that after this hesitation, he had confirmed in his own mind what others had said, for he says to his children, as Matthew relates, This is John the Baptist, he has risen from the dead. Or else these words are to be spoken, so as to indicate that he is still hesitating, particularly as Mark who had said above that others had declared that John had risen from the dead, afterwards however is not silent as to Herod's plainly saying, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. Which words also may be spoken in two ways, either they may be understood as those of a man affirming or doubting.

17. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
18. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.
19. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not;
20. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22. And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever you wilt, and I will give it you.
23. And he swore unto her, Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give it you, to the half of my kingdom.
24. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that you give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
26. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28. And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

THEOPHYL. The Evangelist Mark, taking occasion from what went before, here relates the death of the Forerunner, saying, For Herod himself had sent John and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

BEDE; Ancient history relates, that Philip the son of Herod the great, under whom the Lord fled into Egypt, the brother of this Herod, under whom Christ suffered, married Herodias, the daughter of king Aretas; but afterwards that his father in-law, after certain disagreements had arisen with his son in-law, had taken his daughter away, and, to the grief of her former husband, had given her in marriage to his enemy; therefore John the Baptist rebukes Herod and Herodias for contracting an unlawful union, and because it was not allowed for a man to marry his brother's wife during his lifetime.

THEOPHYL. The law also commanded a brother to marry his brother's wife, if he died without children; but in this case there was a daughter which made the marriage criminal: there follows, Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him but she could not.

BEDE; For Herodias was as afraid, lest Herod should repent at some time, or be reconciled to his brother Philip, and so the unlawful marriage be divorced. It goes on, For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and a holy.

GLOSS. He feared him, I say, because he revered him, for he knew him to be just in his dealings with men, and holy towards God, and he took care that Herodias should not slay him. And when he heard him, he did many things, for he thought that he spoke by the Spirit of God, and heard him gladly, because He considered that what he said was profitable.

THEOPHYL. But see how great the fury of lust, for though Herod had such an awe and fear of John, he forgets it all, that he may minister to his fornication.

REMIG. For his lustful will drove him to lay hands on a man, whom he knew to be just and holy. And by this we may see how a less fault became the cause to him of a greater; as it is said, He which is filthy, let him be filthy still. It goes on, And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.

BEDE, The only men whom we read of, as celebrating their birthdays with festive joys are Herod and Pharaoh, but each, with an evil presage, stained his birthday with blood; Herod, however, with so much the greater wickedness, as he slew the holy and guiltless teacher of truth, and that, by the wish, and at the instance of a female dancer. For there follows, And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatever you will, and I will give it you.

THEOPHYL. For during the banquet, Satan danced in the person of the damsel, and the wicked oath is completed. For it goes on, And he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give it you, to the half of my kingdom.

BEDE; His oath does not excuse his murder, for per-chance his reason for swearing was, that he might find an opportunity for slaying, and if she had demanded the death of his father and mother, he surely would not have granted it. It goes on, And she went forth, and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And He said, The head of John the Baptist. Worthy is blood to be asked as the reward of such a deed as dancing.

It goes on, And she came in straightway with haste, &c.

THEOPHYL. The malignant woman begs that the head of John he given to her immediately, that is, at once, in that very hour, for she feared lest Herod should repent. There follows, And the king was exceeding sorry.

BEDE; It is usual with Scripture, that the historian should relate events as they were when believed by all, thus Joseph is called the father of Jesus by Mary herself. So now also Herod is said to be exceeding sorry, for so the guests thought, since the hypocrite bore sadness on his face, when he had joy in his heart; and he excuses his wickedness by his oath, that he might be impious under pretense of piety. Wherefore there follows For his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her.

THEOPHYL. Herod not being his own master, but full of lust, fulfilled his oath, and slew the just man, it would have been better however to break his oath, than to commit so great a sin.

BEDE; In that again which is added, And for their sakes who sat with him, he wishes to make all partakers in his guilt, that a bloody feast might be set before luxurious and impure guests. Wherefore it goes on, But sending an executioner, he commanded his head to be brought in a charger.

THEOPHYL. 'Spiculator' is the name for the public servant commissioned to put men to death.

BEDE; Now Herod was not ashamed to bring before his guests the head of a murdered man; but we do not read of such an act of madness in Pharoah. From both examples, however, it is proved to be more useful, often to call to mind the coming day of our death, by fear and by living chastely, than to celebrate the day of our birth with luxury. For man is born in the world to toil, but the elect pass by death out of the world to repose. It goes on, And he beheaded him in prison, &c.

GREG. I cannot, without the greatest wonder, reflect that he, who was filled even in his mother's womb with the spirit of prophecy, and then was the greatest that had arisen amongst those born of women, is sent into prison by wicked men, is beheaded for the dancing of a girl, and though a man of so great austerity, meets death through such a foul instrument. Are we to suppose that there was something evil in his life, to have wiped away by so incomprehensible a death? When, however, could he commit a silo even in his eating, whose food was only locusts and wild honey? How could he offend in his conversation, who never quitted the wilderness? How is it that Almighty God so despises in this life those whom He has so sublimely chosen before all ages, if it be not for the reason, when is plain to the piety of the faithful, that He thus sinks them into the lowest place, because he sees how he is rewarding them in the highest, and outwardly He throws them down amongst things despised, because inwardly he draws them up even to incomprehensible things. Let each then infer from us what they shall suffer, whom he rejects, if he so grieves those whom he loves.

BEDE; There follows, And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. Josephus relates, that John was brought bound into the castle of Macheron, and there slain; and, ecclesiastical history says that he was buried in Sebaste, a city of Palestine, once called Samaria. But the beheading of John the Baptist signifies the lessening of that fame, by which he was thought to be Christ by the people, as the raising of our Savior on the cross typifies the advance of the faith, in that He Himself, who was first looked upon as a prophet by the multitude, was recognized as the Son of God by all the faithful; wherefore John, who was destined to decrease, was born when the daylight begins to wax short; but the Lord at that season of the year in which the day begins to lengthen.

THEOPHYL. In a mystical way, however, Herod, whose name means, 'of skin,' is the people of the Jews, and the wife to whom he was wedded means vain glory, whose daughter even now encircles the Jews with her dance, namely, a false understanding of the Scriptures; they indeed beheaded John, that is, the word of prophecy, and, hold to him without Christ, his head.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or else, The head of the law, which is Christ, is cut off from his own body, that is, the Jewish people, and is given to a Gentile damsel, that is, the Roman Church, and the damsel gives it to her adulterous mother, that is, to the synagogue, when in the end we believe. The body of John is buried, his head is put in a dish; thus the human Letter is covered over, the Spirit is honored, and received on the altar.

Catena Aurea Mark 6

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

6. Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary. The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]

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