Wednesday of the Fifth week in Ordinary Time

Book of Genesis

At the time when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens--
while as yet there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted, for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil,
but a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground--
the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.
Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.
The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.
The LORD God gave man this order: "You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden
except the tree of knowledge of good and bad. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die."

Psalms

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
All creatures look to you
to give them food in due time.
When you give to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are well filled with good things.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile."
When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them, "Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles.
From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile."

St. Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947)()

JOSEPHINE BAKHITA (1869-1947) Mother Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869 and was recognized as a daughter of the Most High in Schio, Vicenza. She experienced the anguish of kidnapping and slavery, blooming marvelously in Italy with the Daughters of Charity in response to God's grace.Mother "Moretta" In Schio, Vicenza, where she spent many years of her life, everyone still calls her "our Black Mother." The process for the cause of canonization began twelve years after her death; and on December 1st, 1978, the Church proclaimed the Decree of the heroic practice of all virtues. 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 the name she was given by her parents. Bakhita, which means "fortunate," was the 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 the day 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. Political situations forced the Consul to leave for Italy. Bakhita asked and obtained permission to go with him and with a friend of his, a certain Mr. Augusto Michieli.In Italy On arrival in Genoa, Mr. Legnani, pressured by the request of Mr. Michieli's wife, consented to leave Bakhita with them. She 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 the 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 back her daughter and Bakhita, the latter, with unusual firmness and courage, expressed her desire to remain with the Canossian Sisters and to serve God who had shown her so many proofs of His love. The young woman, who by then had come of age, enjoyed the freedom of choice which Italian law ensured.Daughter of St. Magdalene Bakhita remained in the catechumenate where she experienced the call to be a religious, and to give herself to the Lord in the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa. On December 8, 1896, Josephine Bakhita was consecrated forever to God whom she called with the sweet expression "the Master!" For another 50 years, this humble Daughter of Charity, a true witness of the love of God, 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 door of the Institute.Witness of love Her 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!" As she grew older, Mother Bakhita 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 During her agony, she re-lived the terrible days of her slavery and 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, 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 from heaven. The fame of her sanctity has spread to every continent and many have received graces through her intercession. She was canonized by Pope John-Paul II on October 1, 2000.

St. Jerome Emiliani (1486-1537)()

SAINT JEROME EMILIANI(1486-1537) St. Jerome Emiliani came from a patrician family in Venice. In early life, he was a soldier. After being appointed governor of a fortress among the mountains of Treviso, he was captured by the enemy while bravely defending his post. Imprisoned in a dungeon, Jerome invoked the great Mother of God and promised to lead a new life if she would set him free. In reponse, Our Lady appeared, broke his fetters and led him forth through the midst of his enemies. At Treviso, Jerome hung up his chains at Mother Mary's altar, dedicated himself to Her service, and on reaching his home at Venice, devoted himself to a life of active charity. Jerome's work was for deserted orphans during times of plague or famine. He took them in, clothed and fed them, and provided Christian education. From Venice, Jerome went to Padua and Verona; and in a few years, founded orphanages throughout Northern Italy. Some pious clerics and laymen, who had been his fellow-workers, fixed their abode in one of these establishments and devoted themselves to the cause of education. The Saint drew up for them a rule of life and thus founded the Clerks Regular of Somascha, who are active to this day. St. Jerome passed away on February 8, 1537, from the plague, which he 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's life was colored by self-sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of his neighbor. As a child, he delighted in serving the poor; and often told them he had come into the world for no other end than to wash their feet. He studied at Paris with such distinction that his professors advised him to become a priest, in order that his talents might render greater service to others. For this end, John gladly gave up his high rank and other advantages. At his first Mass, an angel appeared, clad in white, with a red and blue cross on his breast, and his hands reposing on the heads of a Christian and a Moorish captive. To ascertain what this signified, John repaired to St. Felix of Valois, a holy hermit living near Meaux, under whose direction he led a life of penance. The angel again appeared; and both John and Felix set out for Rome to learn the will of God from the lips of the Sovereign Pontiff, who told them to devote themselves to the redemption of captives. For this purpose, John and Felix founded the Order of the Holy Trinity. They fasted every day and gathered alms throughout Europe to redeem the Christian slaves in Barbary. They also devoted themselves to the sick and to prisoners in all countries. The charity of St. John in devoting his life to the redemption of captives was visibly blessed by God. On his second return from Tunis, he brought back one hundred and twenty liberated slaves. But the Moors attacked him at sea, overpowered his vessel, and doomed it to destruction, with all on board, by taking away the rudder and sails. By a miracle in reponse to Faith, angels either sent wind or brought the vessel Themselves to Ostia, the port of Rome, three hundred leagues from Tunis. Worn out by labors, St. John passed away in 1213 at the age of fifty-three. Our intercessor in heaven, he may be relied upon for works of mercy and the help of prisoners.

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