Today's Catholic Mass Readings

Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Mary, Mother of God The Story of Mary, Mother of God Mary's divine motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight. Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. She consents to God's invitation conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38). Elizabeth proclaims: “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43, emphasis added). Mary's role as mother of God places her in a unique position in God's redemptive plan. Without naming Mary, Paul asserts that “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Paul's further statement that “God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out ‘Abba, Father!'” helps us realize that Mary is mother to all the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Some theologians also insist that her motherhood of Jesus is an important element in God's creative plan. God's “first” thought in creating was Jesus. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the one who could give God perfect love and worship on behalf of all creation. As Jesus was “first” in God's mind, Our Lady was “second” insofar as she was chosen from all eternity to be his mother. The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos (God-bearer), it became the touchstone of the Church's teaching about the Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. At the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” The tradition reaches to our own day. In its chapter on Mary's role in the Church, Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls her “Mother of God” 12 times. To learn more, visit our Seven Days with Mary page. Reflection Other themes come together at today's celebration. It is the Octave of Christmas: Our remembrance of Mary's divine motherhood injects a further note of Christmas joy. It is a day of prayer for world peace: She is the mother of the Prince of Peace. It is the first day of a new year: Mary continues to bring new life to her children—who are also God's children.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Saint Sylvester I Saint Sylvester I's Story When you think of this pope, you think of the Edict of Milan, the emergence of the Church from the catacombs, the building of the great basilicas—Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter's, and others—the Council of Nicaea, and other critical events. But for the most part, these events were planned or brought about by Emperor Constantine. A great store of legends has grown up around the man who was pope at this most important time, but very little can be established historically. We know for sure that his papacy lasted from 314 until his death in 335. Reading between the lines of history, we are assured that only a very strong and wise man could have preserved the essential independence of the Church in the face of the overpowering figure of the Emperor Constantine. In general, the bishops remained loyal to the Holy See, and at times expressed apologies to Sylvester I for undertaking important ecclesiastical projects at the urging of Constantine. Reflection It takes deep humility and courage in the face of criticism for a leader to stand aside and let events take their course, when asserting one's authority would only lead to useless tension and strife. Sylvester I teaches a valuable lesson for Church leaders, politicians, parents, and others in authority.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Saint Egwin Saint Egwin's Story You say you're not familiar with today's saint? Chances are you aren't—unless you're especially informed about Benedictine bishops who established monasteries in medieval England. Born in the seventh century of royal blood, Saint Egwin entered a monastery, and was enthusiastically received by royalty, clergy, and the people as the bishop of Worcester, England. As a bishop he was known as a protector of orphans and the widowed and a fair judge. Who could argue with that? His popularity didn't hold up among members of the clergy, however. They saw him as overly strict, while he felt he was simply trying to correct abuses and impose appropriate disciplines. Bitter resentments arose, and Saint Egwin made his way to Rome to present his case to Pope Constantine. The case against Egwin was examined and annulled. Upon his return to England, Egwin founded Evesham Abbey, which became one of the great Benedictine houses of medieval England. It was dedicated to Mary, who had reportedly made it known to Saint Egwin just where a church should be built in her honor. Saint Egwin died at the abbey on December 30, 717. Following his burial many miracles were attributed to him: The blind could see, the deaf could hear, the sick were healed. Reflection Correcting abuses and faults is never an easy job, not even for a bishop. Saint Egwin attempted to correct and build up the clergy in his diocese and it earned him the wrath of his priests. When we are called to correct someone or some group, plan on opposition, but also know that it might be the right thing to do.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Saint Thomas Becket Saint Thomas Becket's Story A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot come to terms with evil, and so became a strong churchman, a martyr, and a saint—that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his cathedral on December 29, 1170. His career had been a stormy one. While archdeacon of Canterbury, he was made chancellor of England at the age of 36 by his friend King Henry II. When Henry felt it advantageous to make his chancellor the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave him fair warning: he might not accept all of Henry's intrusions into Church affairs. Nevertheless, in 1162 he was made archbishop, resigned his chancellorship, and reformed his whole way of life! Troubles began. Henry insisted upon usurping Church rights. At one time, supposing some conciliatory action possible, Thomas came close to compromise. He momentarily approved the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would have denied the clergy the right of trial by a Church court and prevented them from making direct appeal to Rome. But Thomas rejected the Constitutions, fled to France for safety, and remained in exile for seven years. When he returned to England he suspected it would mean certain death. Because Thomas refused to remit censures he had placed upon bishops favored by the king, Henry cried out in a rage, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest!” Four knights, taking his words as his wish, slew Thomas in the Canterbury cathedral. Thomas Becket remains a hero-saint down to our own times. Reflection No one becomes a saint without struggle, especially with himself. Thomas knew he must stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of his life. We also must take a stand in the face of pressures—against dishonesty, deceit, destruction of life—at the cost of popularity, convenience, promotion, and even greater goods.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Holy Innocents The Story of the Holy Innocents Herod “the Great,” king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference. Hence he was insecure and fearful of any threat to his throne. He was a master politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality. He killed his wife, his brother, and his sister's two husbands, to name only a few. Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story: Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.” They found Jesus, offered him their gifts, and warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt. Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children…” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob (Israel). She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity. Reflection The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus' death and resurrection.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin [In the Dioceses of the United States] Lectionary: 494The Saint of the day is Saint Frances Xavier CabriniSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr Lectionary: 493The Saint of the day is Saint JosaphatSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop Lectionary: 492The Saint of the day is Saint Martin of ToursSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 491The Saint of the day is Saint Leo the GreatSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome Lectionary: 671The Saint of the day is Dedication of Saint John Lateran BasilicaSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 490The Saint of the day is Blessed John Duns ScotusSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 489The Saint of the day is Saint DidacusSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 488The Saint of the day is Saint Nicholas Tavelic and CompanionsSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 487The Saint of the day is Saint Peter ChrysologusSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop Lectionary: 486The Saint of the day is Saint Charles BorromeoSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 485The Saint of the day is Saint Martin de PorresSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThe Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) Lectionary: 668The Saint of the day is Commemoration of All the Faithful DepartedThe Story of the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed The Church has encouraged prayer for the dead from the earliest times as an act of Christian charity. “If we had no care for the dead,” Augustine noted, “we would not be in the habit of praying for them.” Yet pre-Christian rites for the deceased retained such a strong hold on the superstitious imagination that a liturgical commemoration was not observed until the early Middle Ages, when monastic communities began to mark an annual day of prayer for the departed members. In the middle of the 11th century, Saint Odilo, abbot of Cluny, France, decreed that all Cluniac monasteries offer special prayers and sing the Office for the Dead on November 2, the day after the feast of All Saints. The custom spread from Cluny and was finally adopted throughout the Roman Church. The theological underpinning of the feast is the acknowledgment of human frailty. Since few people achieve perfection in this life but, rather, go to the grave still scarred with traces of sinfulness, some period of purification seems necessary before a soul comes face-to-face with God. The Council of Trent affirmed this purgatory state and insisted that the prayers of the living can speed the process of purification. Superstition easily clung to the observance. Medieval popular belief held that the souls in purgatory could appear on this day in the form of witches, toads or will-o'-the-wisps. Graveside food offerings supposedly eased the rest of the dead. Observances of a more religious nature have survived. These include public processions or private visits to cemeteries and decorating graves with flowers and lights. This feast is observed with great fervor in Mexico. Reflection Whether or not one should pray for the dead is one of the great arguments which divide Christians. Appalled by the abuse of indulgences in the Church of his day, Martin Luther rejected the concept of purgatory. Yet prayer for a loved one is, for the believer, a way of erasing any distance, even death. In prayer we stand in God's presence in the company of someone we love, even if that person has gone before us into death. Read St. Anthony Messenger‘s practical guide to death for Catholics Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsSolemnity of All Saints Lectionary: 667The Saint of the day is Solemnity of All SaintsSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 483The Saint of the day is Saint Wolfgang of RegensburgSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 482The Saint of the day is Saint Alphonsus RodriguezSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 481The Saint of the day is Saint Narcissus of JerusalemSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Lectionary: 666The Saint of the day is Saints Simon and JudeSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 479The Saint of the day is Blessed Bartholomew of VicenzaSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 150The Saint of the day is Saint Peter of AlcantaraSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 478The Saint of the day is Saint Antnio de SantAnna GalvoSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 477The Saint of the day is Saint Anthony Mary ClaretSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 476The Saint of the day is Saint John of CapistranoSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 475The Saint of the day is Saint John Paul IISaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 474The Saint of the day is Saint HilarionSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 473The Saint of the day is Saint Paul of the CrossSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTwenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 147The Saint of the day is Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brbeuf, and CompanionsSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Lectionary: 471The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of AntiochSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 470The Saint of the day is Saint Margaret Mary AlacoqueSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 468The Saint of the day is Saint Carlo AcutisSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 467The Saint of the day is Blessed Marie-Rose DurocherSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTwenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 144The Saint of the day is Blessed Francis Xavier SeelosSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 466The Saint of the day is Saint John XXIIISaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 465The Saint of the day is Saint Francis BorgiaSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 464The Saint of the day is Saint Denis and CompanionsSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 463The Saint of the day is Saint John LeonardiSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Lectionary: 462The Saint of the day is Our Lady of the RosarySaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 461The Saint of the day is Saint BrunoSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTwenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 141The Saint of the day is Saint Maria Faustina KowalskaSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Francis of Assisi Lectionary: 460The Saint of the day is Saint Francis of AssisiSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 459The Saint of the day is Saint Theodora GurinSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of the Holy Guardian Angels Lectionary: 458/650The Saint of the day is Feast of the Guardian AngelsSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 457The Saint of the day is Saint Thrse of LisieuxSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 456The Saint of the day is Saint JeromeSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels Lectionary: 647The Saint of the day is Saints Michael, Gabriel, and RaphaelSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsTwenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 138The Saint of the day is Saint WenceslausSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest Lectionary: 454The Saint of the day is Saint Vincent de PaulSaint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media