Daily Archives: July 11, 2024

St. Basil the Great

St. Basil the Great

St. Basil the Great

Feast dayJuly 21
PatronVocations
Birth1713
Death1784
BeatifiedPope John Paul II

St. Basil the Great, also known as Basil of Caesarea, was a 4th-century Christian bishop and theologian. He was born around 329 AD in Caesarea, Cappadocia, in modern-day Turkey, and died on January 1, 379 AD. He is recognized as one of the most influential figures in Christian history and is venerated as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

Here are some key points about St. Basil the Great:

  1. Theological Contributions: Basil was a central figure in the development of Christian monasticism. He wrote the “Rule of St. Basil,” which laid the foundation for communal monastic life. His theological works, particularly his contributions to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, were significant. His “Hexaemeron” (a series of nine homilies on the six days of creation) and other writings also had a profound impact on Christian theology.
  2. Role in the Nicene Creed: St. Basil was a staunch defender of the Nicene Creed and played a crucial role in the fight against Arianism, a heresy that denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. His efforts helped to preserve the orthodox Christian belief in the Trinity.
  3. Charitable Work: Basil was known for his charitable efforts, particularly during times of famine and crisis. He established a complex of hospitals, hospices, and poorhouses, often referred to as the “Basiliad,” which provided care and support to the poor and sick.
  4. Bishop of Caesarea: As the bishop of Caesarea, Basil was a powerful leader in the church and used his position to advocate for the poor and to combat heresy. His pastoral letters and homilies were influential and widely circulated.
  5. Legacy: St. Basil’s legacy continues to be felt today. He is commemorated in the Eastern Orthodox Church on January 1 and in the Roman Catholic Church on January 2. He is also one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom, celebrated on January 30 in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

St. Basil the Great’s life and work have left a lasting imprint on Christian monasticism, theology, and charitable practices.

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Daily mass readings for July 19, 2024

Daily mass readings : Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

When Hezekiah was mortally ill,
the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him:
“Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order,
for you are about to die; you shall not recover.”
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:

“O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly
I conducted myself in your presence,
doing what was pleasing to you!”
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go, tell Hezekiah:
Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David:
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.
I will heal you: in three days you shall go up to the LORD’s temple;
I will add fifteen years to your life.
I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;
I will be a shield to this city.”

Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken
and applied to the boil, that he might recover.
Then Hezekiah asked,
“What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the LORD?”

Isaiah answered:
“This will be the sign for you from the LORD
that he will do what he has promised:
See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun
on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz
go back the ten steps it has advanced.”
So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.

Responsorial Psalm : Isaiah 38:10, 11, 12abcd, 16

R. (see 17b) You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Once I said,
“In the noontime of life I must depart!
To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned
for the rest of my years.”
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
I said, “I shall see the LORD no more
in the land of the living.
No longer shall I behold my fellow men
among those who dwell in the world.”
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent,
is struck down and borne away from me;
You have folded up my life, like a weaver
who severs the last thread.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Those live whom the LORD protects;
yours is the life of my spirit.
You have given me health and life.
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.

Alleluia : Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Mt 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

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