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July 11, 2017 Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot Reading 1 Gn 32:23-33In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,with the two maidservants and his eleven children,and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.After he had taken them across the streamand had brought over all his possessions,Jacob was left there alone.Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,he struck Jacob's hip at its socket,so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.The man then said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."But Jacob...

July 10, 2017 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 28:10-22aJacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran.When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set,he stopped there for the night.Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his headand lay down to sleep at that spot.Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground,with its top reaching to the heavens;and God's messengers were going up and down on it.And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying:"I, the LORD, am the God of...

July 8, 2017 Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 27:1-5, 15-29When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him,he called his older son Esau and said to him, "Son!""Yes father!" he replied.Isaac then said, "As you can see, I am so oldthat I may now die at any time.Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,and bring it to me to eat,so that I may give you my special blessing...

July 7, 2017 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)in the land of Canaan,and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:"Although I am a resident alien among you,sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,that I may bury my dead wife." After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarahin the cave of the field of Machpelah,facing Mamre...

July 6, 2017 Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 22:1b-19God put Abraham to the test.He called to him, "Abraham!""Here I am," he replied.Then God said: "Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,and go to the land of Moriah.There you shall offer him up as a burnt offeringon a height that I will point out to you."Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey,took with him his son Isaac, and two of his servants as well,and with the wood that he had cut for the burnt offering,set out for the place of...

March 3, 2017 Friday after Ash Wednesday Reading 1 Is 58:1-9aThus says the Lord GOD:Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness,and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day,and desire to know my ways,Like a nation that has done what is justand not abandoned the law of their God;They ask me to declare what is due them,pleased to gain access to God."Why do we fast, and you do not see it?afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?" Lo, on your fast day you...

December 3, 2016 Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest Reading 1 Is 30:19-21, 23-26 Thus says the Lord GOD,the Holy One of Israel:O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,no more will you weep;He will be gracious to you when you cry out,as soon as he hears he will answer you.The Lord will give you the bread you needand the water for which you thirst.No longer will your Teacher hide himself,but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:“This is the way; walk in it,”when you would turn to...

December 2, 2016 Friday of the First Week in Advent Reading 1 Is 29:17-24 Thus says the Lord GOD:But a very little while,and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,and the orchard be regarded as a forest!On that day the deaf shall hearthe words of a book;And out of gloom and darkness,the eyes of the blind shall see.The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.For the tyrant will be no moreand the arrogant will have gone;All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,those whose mere word...

September 21, 2016 Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Reading 1 Eph 4:1-7, 11-13 Brothers and sisters:I, a prisoner for the Lord,urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,with all humility and gentleness, with patience,bearing with one another through love,striving to preserve the unity of the Spiritthrough the bond of peace:one Body and one Spirit,as you were also called to the one hope of your call;one Lord, one faith, one baptism;one God and Father of all,who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of...

July 5, 2016 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 Thus says the LORD:They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;they established princes, but without my approval.With their silver and gold they madeidols for themselves, to their own destruction.Cast away your calf, O Samaria!my wrath is kindled against them;How long will they be unable to attaininnocence in Israel?The work of an artisan,no god at all,Destined for the flames—such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind;The stalk of grain that forms no earcan yield...

July 4, 2016 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22 Thus says the LORD:I will allure her;I will lead her into the desertand speak to her heart.She shall respond there as in the days of her youth,when she came up from the land of Egypt. On that day, says the LORD,She shall call me “My husband,”and never again “My baal.” I will espouse you to me forever:I will espouse you in right and in justice,in love and in mercy;I will espouse you in fidelity,and you shall know the LORD. Responsorial Psalm Ps...

July 2, 2016 Saturday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time Reading 1 Am 9:11-15 Thus says the LORD:On that day I will raise upthe fallen hut of David;I will wall up its breaches,raise up its ruins,and rebuild it as in the days of old,That they may conquer what is left of Edomand all the nations that shall bear my name,say I, the LORD, who will do this.Yes, days are coming,says the LORD,When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,and the vintager, him who sows the seed;The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,and all the hills shall run...

July 1, 2016 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Am 8:4-6, 9-12 Hear this, you who trample upon the needyand destroy the poor of the land!“When will the new moon be over,” you ask,“that we may sell our grain,and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?”We will diminish the containers for measuring,add to the weights,and fix our scales for cheating!We will buy the lowly man for silver,and the poor man for a pair of sandals;even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” On that day, says the Lord GOD,I will make the sun...

June 30, 2016 Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Am 7:10-17 Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam,king of Israel:“Amos has conspired against you here within Israel;the country cannot endure all his words.For this is what Amos says:Jeroboam shall die by the sword,and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.” To Amos, Amaziah said:“Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!There earn your bread by prophesying,but never again prophesy in Bethel;for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,nor have I belonged to...

February 12, 2016 Friday after Ash Wednesday Reading 1 Is 58:1-9a Thus says the Lord GOD:Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness,and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day,and desire to know my ways,Like a nation that has done what is justand not abandoned the law of their God;They ask me to declare what is due them,pleased to gain access to God."Why do we fast, and you do not see it?afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?" Lo, on your fast day...

December 5, 2015 Saturday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 30:19-21, 23-26 Thus says the Lord GOD,the Holy One of Israel:O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,no more will you weep;He will be gracious to you when you cry out,as soon as he hears he will answer you.The Lord will give you the bread you needand the water for which you thirst.No longer will your Teacher hide himself,but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:"This is the way; walk in it,"when you would turn...

December 4, 2015 Friday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 29:17-24 Thus says the Lord GOD:But a very little while,and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,and the orchard be regarded as a forest!On that day the deaf shall hearthe words of a book;And out of gloom and darkness,the eyes of the blind shall see.The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.For the tyrant will be no moreand the arrogant will have gone;All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,those whose mere word...

July 6, 2015   Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Reading 1 Gn 28:10-22a Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran. When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set, he stopped there for the night. Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot. Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on it. And there was the LORD standing beside him...

July 2, 2015  Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gn 22:1b-19 God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a burnt offering on a height that I will point out to you.” Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey, took with him his son Isaac, and two of his servants as well, and with the wood that he had cut...

February 20, 2015Friday after Ash Wednesday    Reading 1 Is 58:1-9a Thus says the Lord GOD:Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness,and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day,and desire to know my ways,Like a nation that has done what is justand not abandoned the law of their God;They ask me to declare what is due them,pleased to gain access to God.“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Lo, on your fast day...