Catholic Missal of the day: Thursday, February 4 2016

Thursday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

Thursday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time

1. Reading

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,

Psalm

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.”

Gospel

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. Jane of Valois(Queen and Religious († 1505))

SAINT JANE OF VALOIS Queen and Religious ( 1505) St. Jane of Valois was a queen whose humiliations were remarkable even in the annals of the saints. Her father, Louis XI, hoped for a son to succeed him. He banished Jane from his palace and even attempted her life. At the age of 5, the neglected child offered her whole heart to God and yearned to do some special service in honor of His Holy Mother. At King Louis' wish, though against her own inclination, Jane was wedded to the Duke of Orleans. Toward an indifferent and unworthy husband, her conduct was ever more patient and dutiful. Her prayers and tears saved him from a traitor's death for rebellion and shortened his imprisonment. When her husband ascended the throne as Louis XII, his first act was to repudiate her by false representations. At the final sentence of separation, the saintly queen exclaimed, "God be praised Who has allowed this, that I may serve Him better." She retired to Bourges and founded the Order of the Annunciation in honor of Mary, the Mother of God. Jane thus fulfilled her childhood dream of honoring Mother Mary. Jane was guided by St. Francis of Paula, her childhood director, and overcame serious obstacles that even "good" people raised. In 1501, the rule of the Annunciation was finally approved by Alexander VI. The Order's main goal was imitating Our Lady's ten virtues in the mystery of the Incarnation. The superioress was called Ancelle, "handmaid," in honor of Mary's humility. Jane built and endowed the first convent of the Order in 1502.She passed away in a state of grace after a sanctified life. She was buried in the royal crown and purple, beneath which lay the habit of her Order. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 28, 1950, because of her heroic virtues and the miracles proceeding from her intercession.

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St. John de Britto(Martyr († 1693))

SAINT JOHN DE BRITTOMartyr( 1693) John de Britto was a page in Don Pedro II of Portugal's court. His modesty and virtues were sometimes off-putting to his careless companions. When he was dangerously ill, St. Francis Xavier miraculously cured him. With gratitude, his mother vested him for a year in the garb worn by the Jesuit Fathers. From that time, John's heart burned to follow the example of the Apostle of the Indies. On December 17, 1662, John entered the novitiate of the Society in Lisbon. Eleven years later, in spite of his family and the court's opposition, he left everything to evangelize Madura's Hindus. When his mother learned that he was going to the Indies, she used her influence to prevent him from leaving and persuaded the Papal Nuncio to intervene. John wrote, "God, Who called me from the world into religious life, now calls me from Portugal to India." For 14 years, John preached, baptized and converted multitudes. The Holy Cross was his consolation during privations, hardships and persecutions. After 14 years, he was seized, tortured and nearly killed. He was banished from the country and forced to return to Portugal. However, he overcame every obstacle and returned. Like St. John the Baptist, John de Britto suffered defamation and martyrdom. A woman accused him of wrongdoing after being set aside by a converted king. After a painful imprisonment, John was beheaded in 1693. His heroic virtues and the miracles proceeding from his intercession saw him canonized by Ven. Pope Pius XII in 1947.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of february 2016