Wednesday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

Letter to the Hebrews

Brothers and sisters: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."
Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled,

Psalms

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows how we are formed,
remembers that we are dust.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
and his justice toward children's children
among those who keep his covenant.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house."
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

St. Bridgid of Ireland (+ 523)()

SAINT BRIDGID Abbess, and Patroness of Ireland (c. 453-523) Next to the glorious St. Patrick, St. Bridgid, his spiritual daughter in Christ, is held with singular veneration. She was born about the year 453 at Fochard, in Ulster, Northern Ireland. During her infancy, St. Bridgid's pious father saw a vision of holy persons in radiant garments pouring a sacred unguent on her head. In her youth, St. Bridgid consecrated her life to God. She joyfully performed works of mercy. As Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt 25:40). St. Bridgid longed to be closer to Jesus, Mary and the Trinity. Hence she took on a religious habit and turned down many suitors. Our Lord blessed her with a malady in her eye, which turned away her former suitors. Upon receiving her habit from St. Patrick, she was fully restored. This miracle also changed the altar to its orginal beauty. Edified by Sr. Bridgid, other ladies made their vows and founded a religious residence. With the bishop's blessing, the first convent was established in Ireland. Sr. Bridgid assumed leadership or "superiority" of the community in obedience to the prelate. The bishops of Ireland were compelled by the Holy Spirit to establish similar institutions in their respective dioceses. Like the Blessed Virgin Mary who travelled to assist her cousin Elizabeth, Ab. Bridgid performed good works, receiving Jesus with the spirit and fervor of the saints. While thus engaged in a portion of the province of Connaught, a deputation arrived from Leinster to solicit Ab. Bridgid to take up her residence in that territory. It was only the prospect of spiritual advantages that made her accept. Taking some spiritual daughters with her, Ab. Bridgid journeyed to Leinster, where they were happily received. The site of present-day Kildare appeared to well suited for a religious institute, so she and her companions took up residence. Although of humble means, Ab. Bridgid relieved the poor of the vicinity considerably; and when the wants of these persons surpassed her finances, she sacrificed the movables of the convent. On one occasion, imitating the burning charity of St. Ambrose and other servants of God, Ab. Bridgid sold the sacred vestments to relieve the poor. In the spirit of love and service to the Church, she sometimes attended the cattle on the land belonging to the monastery. The renown of Ab. Bridgid's charity drew multitudes to Kildare; and her piety attracted many persons anxious to solicit her prayers and advice. Their numbers increased so much over time that the Sisters provided accommodations in the surrounding neighborhood. Thus was laid the foundation and origin of the town of Kildare. The spiritual exigencies of the community, and the people transferring there, suggested its transformation into an episcopal see. Deeming the proposal proper and helpful, Conlath, a holy ascetic, was chosen by Ab. Bridgid to be the first bishop of the new diocese. In time, the diocese became the ecclesiastical metropolis of the province. After seventy years devoted to the practice of virtues, corporal infirmities admonished Ab. Bridgid that her time was nigh. It had been half a century since, by her holy vows, she had consecrated herself to God. During that period, many souls gained eternal salvation through Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Church. St. Bridgid's holy institute bore good fruit as the Gospel was preached throughout the Emerald Isle. St. Bridgid's last illness was soothed by the presence of Nennidh, a priest of eminent sanctity whom she had edified. On February 1, 523, after receiving the Eucharist, St. Bridget was received by Jesus Christ into Paradise.Her relics were interred in the church adjoining the convent, but later deposited in a shrine near the altar. In the ninth century, when Ireland was attacked by the Danes, St. Bridgid's relics were transferred to Down-Patrick, where they were deposited with those of St. Patrick. Their relics, together with those of St. Columba, were transferred to the Cathedral. The head of St. Bridgid is now kept in the church of the Jesuits at Lisbon. St. Bridgid intercedes for us until the end of time, regining alongside Jesus and Mary in heaven.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2023 / Catholic Missal of february 2023