Catholic Missal of the day: Monday, February 15 2016
Monday of the First week of Lent
Monday of the First week of Lent
1. ReadingBook of Leviticus
19,1-2.11-18.]The LORD said to Moses,
]"Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.
]"You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.
]You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the LORD.
]"You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.
]You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.
]"You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly.
]You shall not go about spreading slander among your kinsmen; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is at stake. I am the LORD.
]"You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him.
]Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
Psalms
19(18),8.9.10.15.]The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
]The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
]The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
]Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
25,31-46.]Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,
]and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
]He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
]Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
]For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
]naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
]Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
]When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
]When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
]And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
]Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
]For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
]a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
]Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'
]He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'
]And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Sts. Faustinus and Jovita(Martyrs († c. 121))
SAINTS FAUSTINUS and JOVITAMartyrs( c. 121) Sts. Faustinus and Jovita were brothers and noblemen. They preached in their native city of Brescia, Lombardy. When a persecution erupted due to Emperor Trajan's policies, the bishop sought asylum. Sts. Faustinus and Jovita were were scrutinized because of their preaching. THey were arrested by secular authorities and the judge, Julian, sentenced them to beheading. They were martyred around the year 121. Sts. Faustinus and Jovita are venerated as patron saints of Brescia. Their relics are enshrined at the ancient church of San Faustino Maggiore.
St. Claude de la Colombière(Priest (1641-1682))
Saint Claude de la Colombière(2 February 1641 - 15 February 1682) St. Claude was a Jesuit priest and the confessor ofSt. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The latter promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret's emphasis on God’s love for all counteracted the extremism and heresiesof the Jansenists. In 1674, after fifteen years as a Jesuit, Claude did his period of probation known as the Tertianship. Following the Spiritual Exercises, he took vows to faithfully observe the rule and constitutions of the Society. Those who lived with him attested that he kept his vows with perfect integrity and fortitude. Claude was a remarkable preacher even before he was ordained in 1675. After two months, he was made superior of a small Jesuit residence in Paray-le-Monial. There, he met Margaret Mary Alacoque. He served as her spiritual friend and confessor for many years. In 1676, Fr. Claude was sent to England to preach to Mary of Modena, then the Duchess of York. He took up residence at the Court of St. James and observed all his religious duties as a member of the Society. He frequently preached by example and thus converted a number of Protestants. Although encountering many difficulties, he continued guiding Margaret Mary Alacoque by letter. Fr. Claude's duties and the English climate eventually weakened his health; and a pulmonary condition threatened to end his work there. In November 1678, he was arrested and imprisoned: denounced as being a part of the Popish Plot, alleged by Titus Oates, against the English throne. Caught in the anti-Catholic hysteria resulting from this alleged plot, Fr. Claude was confined in severe conditions until his health took a turn for the worse. He passed away in 1682 after banishment. He was canonized in 1992 by Pope John Paul II.
Bl. Michał Sopoćko(Priest (1888-1975))
Blessed Michał Sopoćko Priest (1888-1975) Michał Sopoćko was born on November 1, 1888, in Nowosady (Juszewszczyzna), then under Imperial Russia.The Czarist authority persecuted Catholic Lithuanians and Poles. In the Sopoćko family of noble lineage, the Polish and Catholic traditions were conserved and practiced. The young Michał matured in a religious and patriotic atmosphere. Motivated by a desire for unconditional service to God, theChurch and humanity, Michał entered Vilnius' Major Seminary. On June 15, 1914, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Franciszek Karewicz. For four years (1914-1918), Fr. Michał worked as a parochial vicar in Taboryszki. He opened two mission churches in Miedniki and Onżadòw in addition to several schools. Informed that the German authorities might arrest him, he went to Warsaw and became a military chaplain for the Polish army. While dedicated to this ministry, he enrolled at University of Warsaw's Faculty of Theology. He obtained a doctoral degree and graduated from the National Pedagogical Institute. In 1924, he became a coordinator of the regional military chaplaincies based in Vilnius. In 1927, Archbishop Romuald Jalbrzykowski made Fr. Michał the spiritual director of the Major Seminary. Fr. Michał also taught for the faculty of Theology at Stefan Batory University. He eventually requested to be released from his military and seminary duties and pivoted toward theological pursuits. In 1934, he received the title of 'docent' in pastoral theology. While teaching, he never forgot the importance of pastoral service. He was the rector of St. Michael Church and a confessor for religious sisters. One of the most significant events of Fr. Michał's life occurred in 1933. He became the spiritual director of Saint Faustina Kowalska, from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. He continued assisting her after transferring to Łagiewniki, where she passed away on October 5, 1938. As her confessor, he undertook a thorough evaluation of her mystical experiences concerning devotion to the Divine Mercy. She followed his advice and wrote her experiences in a diary. The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska is a spiritual classic. With Fr. Michał's assistance and Sister Faustina's direction, the artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski painted the first portrait of Jesus as the Divine Mercy. Fr. Michał wrote extensively on the subject. In 1938, he established a committee to build the Divine Mercy Church in Vilnius. However, the Church's construction was postponed due to World War II. Inspite of war and the Nazi occupation, Fr. Michał continued promoting devotion to the Divine Mercy. He zealously helped those who were oppressed and threatened with extermination, including numerous Jews. In 1942, Fr. Michał was forced to go into hiding near Vilnius, together with his fellow seminary professors and students. He remained concealed for two years. During that time, he played a major role in establishing a new religious congregation for the Divine Mercy. After the war, he wrote the congregation's constitution. He became actively engaged in the growth and development of what we know as the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Mercy. In 1947, Archbishop Jałbrzykowski, arranged for Fr. Michał's transfer to the Archdiocesan Major Seminary. Fr. Michał taught pedagogy, catechetics, homiletics, pastoral theology and spirituality. He also continued the apostolate of the Divine Mercy. He worked tirelessly on its biblical, theological and pastoral bases. His publications were translated into numerous languages, including Latin, English, French, Italian and Portuguese. The 3 o'clock prayer and Chaplet of Divine Mercy are God's assurances to the world. Fr. Michal Sopoćko passed away on February 15, 1975, in his apartment on Poleska Street. He was popularly acclaimed for his sanctity. He was buried in the parish cemetery in Białystok. Following the inauguration of the process for his beatification, his body was moved to the Church of the Divine Mercy (November 30, 1988). He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on September 28, 2008.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of february 2016
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:07Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:07Z