Thursday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

1st book of Kings

2,1-4.10-12.

When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:
"I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man.
Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn,
and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.'
David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
The length of David's reign over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
When Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David, with his sovereignty firmly established,

1st book of Chronicles

29,10.11ab.11d-12a.12bcd.

“Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.”
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
“LORD, you are exalted over all.
Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you.”
"You have dominion over all,
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

6,7-13.

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick--no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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St. Bridgid of Ireland(Foundress (+ 523))

SAINT BRIDGID Abbess, and Patroness of Ireland (c. 453-523) St. Bridgid was the spiritual daughter of St. Patrick. She was born circa 453 in Fochard, Ulster, Northern Ireland. Her pious mother saw a vision of holy persons in radiant garments pouring a sacred unguent on her head. Bridgid longed for perfection, rejected several suitors and pursued a religious habit. She was inspired by St. Patrick's preaching. Our Lord blessed her with a malady in the eye that repulsed some of her suitors. When she received the habit from St. Patrick, she was miraculously healed. The miracle also changed the altar to its orginal beauty. Together with Bridgid, other women took vows and founded a religious residence. With the bishop's blessing, the first convent was established in Ireland. Bridgid assumed leadership or superiority of the community in obedience to the prelate. Ireland's bishops then established similar institutes in their respective dioceses. Like the Blessed Virgin Mary who travelled to assist her cousin Elizabeth, Bridgid worked tirelessly to help others encounter Christ. While working in the province of Connaught, Bridgid received a deputation to take up residence in Leinster. The prospect of calling more souls to Christ emboldened and motivated her. She took spiritual daughters with her and founded an institute at the site of present-day Kildare. Although of humble means, Bridgid relieved the poor of the vicinity considerably. When their needs 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, Bridgid sold the sacred vestments to relieve the poor. To serve the Church, she sometimes tended the cattle on the land belonging to the monastery. The renown of Bridgid's charity drew multitudes to Kildare. Her piety attracted many persons who sought her prayers and advice. Their numbers increased so much that the Sisters provided accommodations in the surrounding neighborhood. This was the foundation and origin of the town of Kildare. The spiritual needs 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 Bridgid to be the first bishop of the new diocese. In time, the diocese became the province's ecclesiastical metropolis. After fifty years of service in a religious state, Bridgid sensed that her time was drawing to an end. Many souls had attained salvation thanks to her apostolate. Her institute bore good fruit and the Gospel was preached throughout the Emerald Isle. Bridgid's last illness was soothed by the presence of Nennidh, a holy priest she had edified. On February 1, 523, after receiving the Eucharist, Bridget's soul was taken to Heaven. Her relics were interred in the church adjoining the convent and later enshrined near the altar. In the ninth century, when Ireland was attacked by the Danes, St. Bridgid's relics were transferred to Down-Patrick and deposited with those of St. Patrick. Their relics, together with those of St. Columba, were then transferred to the Cathedral. St. Bridgid's head is now at the Jesuits' church in Lisbon. Her intercession is unfailing; and she sees God face to face forever.

misalcatolico.com

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2024 / Catholic Missal of february 2024