Author Archives: catholiconline

St. Lydia Purpuraria

Feast daySeptember 16

St. Lydia of Thyatira, also known as St. Lydia Purpuraria or Lydia the Purple Seller, is recognized as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. She is mentioned in the Book of Acts in the New Testament.

Key Highlights of Her Life
Background: Lydia was from Thyatira, a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), known for its production of purple dye. She was a seller of purple cloth, which is why she is often referred to as “Lydia Purpuraria” (the purple seller).

Encounter with Paul: Lydia met Apostle Paul and his companions during his second missionary journey. She was gathered with other women by the riverbank in Philippi when Paul spoke to them about the life of Christ. Lydia’s heart was opened to listen, and she became a believer2.

Conversion and Baptism: Lydia and her household were baptized, and she insisted that Paul and his companions stay at her home in Philippi. Her house likely became an early meeting place for Christians in the area2.

Legacy: Lydia is considered the patron saint of dyers and is honored for her role in spreading Christianity in Europe2. Her feast day is celebrated on August 3rd in the Eastern Orthodox Church and January 27th in the Episcopal Church in the United States.


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Bible readings

Daily mass readings for Nov 29,2024

Daily mass readings : Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : RV 20:1-4, 11—21:2

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,
holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
which is the Devil or Satan,
and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
which he locked over it and sealed,
so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Responsorial Psalm : PS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A

R. (Rev. 21:3b) Here God lives among his people.
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. Here God lives among his people.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. Here God lives among his people.
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. Here God lives among his people.

Alleluia : LUKE 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, 
but my words will not pass away.”


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St. John XXIII

Feast daySeptember 16

St. John XXIII (1881–1963), born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was the 261st pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1958 until his death in 1963. Known as the “Good Pope,” he is celebrated for his humility, pastoral warmth, and vision for a renewed Church. Here are some key aspects of his life and pontificate:

Early Life and Ministry
Born: November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy, into a humble farming family.
Education: Studied at the Pontifical Roman Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1904.
Diplomatic Career: Served as a papal diplomat in Bulgaria, Turkey, and France, where he worked to foster relations between Catholics and other Christian communities, as well as with Muslims and Jews.
Papacy (1958–1963)
Election: Elected pope on October 28, 1958, at age 76, many expected his pontificate to be transitional. Instead, it became transformative.
Second Vatican Council (Vatican II): Convened the council in 1962, seeking to renew the Church and engage it with the modern world. His vision was one of aggiornamento (bringing up to date) while remaining faithful to tradition.
Social Teachings: Promoted peace and social justice, most notably through his encyclical Pacem in Terris (1963), which addressed peace and human rights in the nuclear age.
Key Themes and Legacy
Pastoral Approach: Known for his kindness, accessibility, and emphasis on the Church as a motherly and merciful presence.
Dialogue: Encouraged dialogue with other Christian denominations and religions.
Canonization: Declared a saint by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014, alongside St. John Paul II.
St. John XXIII is affectionately remembered for his human warmth and visionary leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the Catholic Church and the world. His feast day is October 11, commemorating the opening of the Second Vatican Council.


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Daily mass readings for Nov 28, 2024 Thanksgiving Day

Mass readings for Thanksgiving day

Reading I : Sir 50:22-24

And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.

Responsorial Psalm : 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord

Reading II : 1 Cor 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia : 1 Thes 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Lk 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”


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St. Drogo

Feast daySeptember 16

St. Drogo of Sebourg, also known as Druon, Dreux, Dron, Droon, or Drogon, was a Flemish hermit and pilgrim who lived in the 12th century. Born on March 14, 1105, in Epinoy, France, he is known for his piety, charity, and devotion to prayer.

Key Highlights of His Life
Early Life: Drogo was born into nobility but became an orphan at birth. Raised by relatives, he chose a life of poverty and penance at the age of 20, giving away his wealth to the poor1.

Shepherd and Hermit: He worked as a shepherd for six years, using his time in solitude for prayer and penance. His skills in caring for animals and his charitable nature earned him the respect and affection of those around him1.

Pilgrimages: Despite his relative obscurity, Drogo was known for his frequent pilgrimages, reportedly visiting Rome nine times and other holy sites in France and Italy.

Bilocation: It was rumored that Drogo had the gift of bilocation, being seen in multiple places at once. This led to the saying, “I’m not Saint Drogo; I can’t ring the church bell for Mass and be in the procession!”1

Final Years: Due to a hernia, Drogo built a small cell against the church wall in Sebourg, where he lived out his final years, continuing his devotion and receiving food and water from those seeking his prayers.

Patronages and Legacy
Saint Drogo is the patron saint of shepherds, coffee house keepers, and unattractive people. His feast day is celebrated on April 16, the day of his death in 1186. He is venerated for his humility, charity, and dedication to a life of prayer and service.


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Daily mass readings for Nov 27,2024

Daily mass readings : Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : RV 15:1-4

I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God’s fury is accomplished.

Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God’s harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Responsorial Psalm : PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 7-8, 9

R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Alleluia : RV 2:10C

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”


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St. Jacinta Marto

Feast daySeptember 16

St. Jacinta Marto was one of the three children who witnessed the Our Lady of Fátima apparitions in 1917, along with her cousin Lúcia and her brother Francisco. Born on March 5, 1910, in Aljustrel, Portugal, Jacinta was known for her sweet and affectionate nature.

Key Events in Her Life
Apparitions: Jacinta, along with her brother and cousin, reported seeing the Virgin Mary on several occasions in Cova da Iria, Fátima. These apparitions emphasized the need for prayer, penance, and conversion1.

Suffering and Sacrifice: Jacinta was deeply affected by a vision of Hell shown to the children during the third apparition. This vision led her to practice stringent self-mortifications and to have a strong desire to save sinners through penance and sacrifice.

Illness and Death: Jacinta fell ill with the Spanish flu in 1918 and suffered greatly. She passed away on February 20, 1920, at the age of nine.

Canonization
Jacinta, along with her brother Francisco, was canonized by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017, the centennial of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima. She is the youngest non-martyred saint in the Catholic Church1.

Legacy
Saint Jacinta’s life is a testament to her deep faith and commitment to the messages of Fátima. Her story continues to inspire many, especially children and young people, to live a life of prayer and sacrifice.


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Daily mass readings for Nov 26, 2024

Daily mass readings : Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : RV 14:14-19

I, John, looked and there was a white cloud,
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

Responsorial Psalm : 96:10, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Alleluia : RV 2:10C

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”


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Daily mass readings for Nov 25, 2024

Daily mass readings : Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia : Mt 24:42a, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”


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Daily mass readings for Nov 24, 2024

Daily mass readings: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading I : Dn 7:13-14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm : Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5

R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

Reading II : Rv 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God,
“the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

Alleluia : Mk 11:9, 10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Jn 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
“Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?”
Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”


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