Catholic Missal of the day: Monday, February 8 2016
Monday of the Fifth week in Ordinary Time
Monday of the Fifth week in Ordinary Time
1. Reading1st book of Kings
8,1-7.9-13.]The elders of Israel and all the leaders of the tribes, the princes in the ancestral houses of the children of Israel, came to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from the City of David, which is Zion.
]All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival in the month of Ethanim (the seventh month).
]When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark;
]they carried the ark of the LORD and the meeting tent with all the sacred vessels that were in the tent. (The priests and Levites carried them.)
]King Solomon and the entire community of Israel present for the occasion sacrificed before the ark sheep and oxen too many to number or count.
]The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the holy of holies of the temple.
]The cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the ark, sheltering the ark and its poles from above.
]There was nothing in the ark but the two stone tablets which Moses had put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites at their departure from the land of Egypt.
]When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD
]so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud, since the LORD'S glory had filled the temple of the LORD.
]Then Solomon said, "The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud;
]I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever."
Psalms
132(131),6-7.8-10.]"Behold, we have heard of it in Ephrathah;
we have found it in the fields of Jaar.
]Let us enter God's dwelling;
let us worship at God's footstool."
]"Arise, LORD, come to your resting place,
you and your majestic ark.
]Your priests will be clothed with justice;
your faithful will shout for joy."
]For the sake of David your servant,
do not reject your anointed.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
6,53-56.]After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there.
]As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
]They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
]Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
St. Josephine Bakhita(Religious (1869-1947))
JOSEPHINE BAKHITA (1869-1947) Mother Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869. As a girl, she experienced the anguish of kidnapping and slavery. In Italy, she bloomed marvelously with the Daughters of Charity.Mother "Moretta" In Schio, Vicenza, Italy, where she spent many years, everyone still calls her "our Black Mother." The process for her canonization began twelve years after her death. The Church proclaimed she practiced all the virtues heroically on December 1, 1978. Divine Providence, which "cares for the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air," guided Mother Josephine through innumerable and unspeakable sufferings: from slavery to human freedom; and to the freedom of faith and finally to the consecration of her whole life to God.In Slavery Bakhita was not the name she received from her parents at birth. The fright and the terrible experiences she went through made her forget what they named her. Bakhita, which means "fortunate," was a name given to her by her kidnappers.Sold and resold in the markets of El Obeid and of Khartoum, she experienced the humiliations and sufferings of slavery, both physical and moral.Towards freedom In the Capital of Sudan, Bakhita was bought by an Italian consul, Callisto Legnani. For the first time since she was kidnapped, she realized with pleasant surprise that no one used the lash when giving her orders. Instead, she was treated in a loving and cordial way. In the consul's residence, Bakhita experienced peace, warmth and moments of joy, even though veiled by nostalgia for her own family, whom, perhaps, she had lost forever. When political situations forced Castillo Legnani to leave for Italy, Bakhita asked and obtained permission to go with him and his friend, Mr. Augusto Michieli.In Italy After arriving in Genoa, Mr. Michieli's wife persuaded Castillo Legnani to place Bakhita in their care. Bakhita followed the new family, which settled in Zianigo, near Mirano Veneto. When their daughter Mimmina was born, Bakhita became her babysitter and friend. The acquisition and management of a big hotel in Suakin, on the Red Sea, forced Mrs. Michieli to move to Suakin to help her husband. Meanwhile, on the advice of their administrator, Illuminato Checchini, Mimmina and Bakhita were entrusted to the Canossian Sisters of the Institute of the Catechumens in Venice. It was there that Bakhita came to know about God: whom "she had experienced in her heart without knowing who He was" ever since she was a child. "Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the Master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage..."Daughter of God After several months in the catechumenate, Bakhita received the sacraments of Christian initiation and was given a new name: "Josephine." It was January 9, 1890. She did not know how to express her joy that day. Her big and expressive eyes sparkled, revealing deep emotions. From then on, she was often seen kissing the baptismal font and saying: "Here, I became a daughter of God!"With each new day, she became more aware of who this God was, whom she now knew and loved, who had led her to Him through mysterious ways, holding her by the hand. When Mrs. Michieli returned from Africa to take her daughter and Bakhita, the latter, with unusual firmness and courage, expressed her desire to remain with the Canossian Sisters and to serve God. The young woman, who by then had come of age, enjoyed the freedom of choice that Italian law ensured.Daughter of St. Magdalene Bakhita remained in the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa.On December 8, 1896, she was consecrated to God; whom she called with the sweet expression "the Master!"For another 50 years, this humble Daughter of Charity lived in the community in Schio, engaged in various services: cooking, sewing, embroidery and attending to the door. When she was on duty, she would gently lay her hands on the heads of the children who daily attended the Canossian schools and caress them. Her amiable voice, which had the inflection and rhythm of the music of her country, was pleasing to the little ones, comforting to the poor and suffering and encouraging for those who knocked at the Institute's door.Witness of love Sister Josephine's humility, simplicity and constant smile won the hearts of all the citizens. She was esteemed by the community's sisters for her inalterable sweet nature, exquisite goodness and deep desire to make the Lord known."Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God," she wrote. As she grew older, Sister Josphine experienced long, painful years of sickness. She continued witnessing to faith, goodness and Christian hope. To those who visited her and asked how she was, she would respond with a smile: "As the Master desires."Final test Shortly before passing, she re-lived the terrible days of her slavery. More then once she begged the nurse who assisted her: "Please, loosen the chains... they are heavy!"It was Mary Most Holy who freed her from all pain. Her last words were: "Our Lady! Our Lady!"; and her final smile testified to her encounter with the Mother of the Lord. Mother Bakhita passed away on February 8, 1947, at the Canossian Convent in Schio, surrounded by her Sisters. A crowd quickly gathered at the Convent to have a last look at their Mother and to ask for her protection. The fame of her sanctity has spread to every continent and many have received graces through her intercession. St. Josephine Bakhita was canonized by Pope John-Paul II on October 1, 2000.
St. Jerome Emiliani(Founder (1486-1537))
SAINT JEROME EMILIANI(1486-1537) St. Jerome Emiliani was a nobleman from Venice. He pursued a military career and was appointed governor of a fortress in the mountains of Treviso. While bravely defending his post, he was captured by the enemy. While imprisoned, St. Jerome invoked the Mother of God: promising to lead a new life if she freed him. In reponse, Our Lady appeared, broke his fetters and led him forth in the midst of his enemies. He laid down his chains at Mother Mary's altar in Treviso and dedicated himself to Her service. St. Jerome rescued abandoned orphans during plagues and famines. He housed them and offered them education. From Venice, he founded orphanages in Padua and Verona. For his cooperators, he drew up a rule of life; and thus founded the Clerks Regular of Somascha, who are active to this day. Hepassed away on February 8, 1537, from an illness contracted while caring for the sick.
St. John of Matha(Priest (1169-1213))
SAINT JOHN OF MATHA Priest and Founder of the Order of the Holy Trinity (1169-1213) St. John of Matha was daring. He personally freed slaves incountries hostile to Western Civilization. He renounced all privileges and marched into the heart of darkness. In piercing the darkness with the light of Christ, he raised up the Church militant and became a forerunner of the Western World's abolition of salvery. As a child, St. John showed signs of authentic greatness. He delighted in serving the poor; and would tell them that he came into the world only to wash their feet. His intellect, which apprehends truth, likely emboldened his faith. He earned high academic honors in Paris; and was so successful that his professors advised him to become a priest in order to serve a greater number. Thus, for Jesus Christ, he laid down his high rank and privileges. At St. John's first Mass, an angel appeared, clad in white, with a red and blue cross on his chest; his hands reposing on the heads of a Christian and a Moorish captive. To ascertain what this signified, he consulted St. Felix of Valois, a holy hermit living near Meaux, under whose direction he led a penitential life. When the angel appeared again, Sts. John and Felix went to Rome to learn God's will from the sovereign pontiff. They were directed to redeem slaves; and thus founded the Order of the Holy Trinity. They fasted daily, gathered alms throughout Europe and redeemed Christian slaves in Barbary. They also devoted themselves to the sick and to prisoners. The charity of St. John was visibly blessed by God. On his second return from Tunis, he brought back 120 Christians. Although the Moors attacked his vessel and confiscated its rudder and sails, a miracle in response to faith saw angels bring them to Ostia three hundred leagues from Tunis. St. John passed away in 1213 at the age of 53. He intercedes in works of mercy and helping prisoners.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of february 2016
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:07Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:07Z