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St. Cornelius

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Feast daySeptember 16

St. Cornelius was the bishop of Rome from 251 to 2531. He was pope during a tumultuous period marked by persecution and schism within the Church.
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Key Highlights of His Life:


Election: Cornelius was elected pope during a challenging period. The papal seat had been vacant for over a year after the martyrdom of Pope Fabian.
. A synod confirmed his election. This led to a schism with Novatian. Novatian opposed Cornelius’s stance on the readmission of lapsed Christians.
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Persecution: During his papacy, Christian persecution resumed under Emperor Trebonianus Gallus2
. Cornelius was exiled to Centumcellae (modern-day Civitavecchia) and faced harsh conditions that eventually led to his death1
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Legacy: Cornelius is remembered for his efforts to maintain unity in the Church and his compassionate stance on the readmission of repentant Christians.


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Bible readings

Daily mass readings for Dec 4, 2024

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Daily mass readings: Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Reading 1: Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.

On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Alleluia :

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Mt 15:29-37

At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”
The disciples said to him,
“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

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St. Catherine de Ricci

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Feast daySeptember 16

St. Catherine de Ricci
St. Catherine de Ricci (1522-1590) was an Italian Dominican nun. She was known for her deep mystical experiences. She had a strong devotion to the Passion of Christ. Born Alessandra Lucrezia Romola de Ricci in Florence, she entered the Dominican convent at Prato at the age of 13. She later became the prioress of the convent.

Key Highlights of Her Life
Mystical Experiences: Catherine experienced numerous mystical visions and ecstasies, often during her routine duties. People claim she had physical encounters with Jesus Christ. She also spontaneously bled with the wounds of the crucified Christ.

Leadership: As prioress, Catherine was known for her effective and admired administration. She provided spiritual guidance to many, including princes, bishops, and cardinals1.

Devotion to the Passion: Catherine had a lifelong devotion to the Passion of Christ. This devotion was evident in her rigorous penitential practices. It was also visible in her deep spiritual life.

Canonization: Catherine was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746. Her feast day is celebrated on February 2nd.

Legacy
Saint Catherine de Ricci is venerated for her mystical visions and her unwavering faith. Her life continues to inspire many with her deep spiritual commitment and acts of charity.

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Daily mass readings for Dec 3, 2024

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Daily mass readings : Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

Reading 1 : Is 11:1-10

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Lk 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

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St. Anselm

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Feast daySeptember 16

St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033/34 – 1109) was an Italian-born Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher, and theologian who became the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109. He is often called the father of Scholasticism, a philosophical and theological movement that sought to reconcile faith and reason.

Key Highlights of His Life
Early Life: Anselm was born in Aosta, Italy, and initially pursued a career in politics. However, he felt a strong calling to monastic life and eventually joined the Benedictine monastery at Bec in Normandy, France.

Philosophical Contributions: Anselm is best known for his ontological argument for the existence of God, which he presented in his work “Proslogion.” He argued that God, being the greatest conceivable being, must exist in reality because existence is a necessary condition of being the greatest.

Theological Works: Anselm also wrote “Cur Deus Homo” (Why God Became Man), where he developed the satisfaction theory of atonement, explaining how Christ’s sacrifice reconciles humanity with God.

Archbishop of Canterbury: Anselm was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and worked to defend the church’s interests in England, often clashing with the English kings over issues of church authority and investiture.

Legacy: Anselm’s works have had a lasting impact on Christian theology and philosophy. He was canonized in 1494 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1720.

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Daily mass readings for Dec 2, 2024

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Daily mass readings : Monday of the First Week of Advent

Reading 1 : Is 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Alleluia : See Ps 80:4

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come and save us, LORD our God;
Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Mt 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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St. Fabian

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Feast daySeptember 16

St. Fabian (Latin: Fabianus) was the bishop of Rome from 236 to 250. He is known for his unexpected election as pope, which was marked by a dove descending on his head, symbolizing the Holy Spirit1. This event was seen as divine approval of his selection.

Key Highlights of His Life
Election: Fabian was not initially considered a candidate for the papacy, but a dove landing on his head during the election process led to his unanimous selection.

Papacy: During his 14-year papacy, Fabian was known for his administrative skills and efforts to maintain unity within the Church. He divided Rome into seven districts, each overseen by a deacon, and appointed notaries to record the deeds of martyrs.

Missionary Work: Fabian sent missionaries, known as the “Seven Apostles to the Gauls,” to spread Christianity in France.

Martyrdom: Fabian was martyred during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius in 250. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anglican Communion.

Legacy
St. Fabian’s feast day is celebrated on January 20th. He is remembered for his contributions to the early Church and his steadfast faith in the face of persecution.

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St. Casimir

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Feast daySeptember 16

St. Casimir (1461-1484) was a prince of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, known for his deep piety, devotion to God, and acts of charity. Born on October 3, 1458, in Wawel Castle, Kraków, he was the second son of King Casimir IV and Queen Elizabeth of Austria.

Key Highlights of His Life
Early Life and Education: Casimir was well-educated, learning Latin, German, law, history, rhetoric, and classical literature. He was known for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and often prayed the hymn “Daily, Daily Sing to Mary”2.

Spiritual Devotion: From a young age, Casimir showed a strong commitment to his faith. He practiced penitential acts, slept on the floor, and spent nights in meditation on the Passion of Christ2.

Acts of Charity: Casimir was known for his generosity towards the poor and the sick. He often gave away his possessions to those in need1.

Martyrdom: Casimir died on March 4, 1484, at the age of 25, likely from tuberculosis. He was buried in Vilnius Cathedral.

Canonization: His canonization was initiated by his brother, King Sigismund I the Old, in 1514, and he was canonized by Pope Leo X in 1521 or Pope Clement VIII in 1602.

Legacy and Patronage
Saint Casimir is the patron saint of Lithuania and Lithuanian youth. His feast day is celebrated on March 4th. In Vilnius, his feast day is marked with the Kaziuko mugė, a trade fair held on the Sunday nearest to the anniversary of his death.

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Daily mass readings for Dec 1, 2024

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Daily mass readings : First Sunday of Advent

Reading I : Jer 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Reading II : 1 Thes 3:12—4:2

Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you, 
so as to strengthen your hearts, 
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father 
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.  Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters, 
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us 
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Alleluia : Ps 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Daily mass readings for Nov 30,2024

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Daily mass readings : Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

Reading I : Rom 10:9-18

Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
    and their words to the ends of the world.

Responsorial Psalm : 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Alleluia : Mt 4:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Mt 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

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