Catholic Missal of the day: Sunday, January 10 2016
Baptism of the Lord - Feast
Baptism of the Lord - Feast
1. ReadingBook of Isaiah
40,1-5.9-11.]Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
]Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.
]A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
]Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
]Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
]Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!
]Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him.
]Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.
Psalms
104(103),1b-2.3-4.24-25.27-28.29-30.]O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
]robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth.
]You have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you travel on the wings of the wind.
]You make the winds your messengers,
and flaming fire your ministers.
]How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures;
]the sea also, great and wide,
in which are schools without number
of living things both small and great.
]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.
Letter to Titus
2,11-14.3,4-7.]Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all
]and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
]as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ,
]who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
]But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared,
]not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit,
]whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior,
]so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
3,15-16.21-22.]The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ.
]John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.
]After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened
]and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
St. Léonie Aviat(Religious (1844-1914))
Saint Françoise De Sales (Léonie Aviat)Religious(1844-1914) Léonie Aviat was born on September 16, 1844, in Sézanne, Champagne, France. She attended school at the Monastery of the Visitation in the city of Troyes. Mother Marie de Sales Chappuis, the superior, and Father Louis Brisson, the chaplain, were her spiritual directors. Having thus been formed at the school of St. Francis de Sales, she prepared herself for a future mission: founding a congregation based on Salesian spirituality and the evangelization of young workers. Léonie's vocation took shape in the milieu of the Industrial Revolution. In the city of Troyes, textile mills employed large numbers of young, rural women. Fr. Brisson, a forerunner of the great social movement, had opened a center in 1858 to welcome young textile workers: giving them both human and Christian education. Unable to find a suitable directress and stable supervisory staff for the center, known as the Oeuvre Saint-François de Sales, he decided, with God's inspiration, to establish a religious congregation. He found in Léonie Aviat an incomparable co-worker and also discerned her vocation to religious life. Upon completing her studies, Léonie left the Visitation Monastery with the firm intention of returning as a lay sister. However, Fr. Brisson and Mother Chappuis advised her to wait. Léonie was docile to the Holy Spirit and received a special, unmistakable sign from Him. An inspiration enlightened her mind and guided her to the factory where glasses were manufactured and repaired in Sézanne. The sight of busy young workers kindled her desire to work among them, counsel and guide them. This attraction pressed her even more strongly the day Fr. Brisson invited her to visit the Oeuvre ouvrière. On April 18, 1866, Léonie joined the Oeuvre Saint-François de Sales, together with a former Visitation Monastery classmate, Lucie Canuet. On October 30, 1868, the young foundress was clothed with the religious habit and received the name Sister Françoise de Sales. In her personal notes, she wrote, "St. Francis de Sales, you have chosen me to be at the head of this little group; give me your spirit, your heart... Grant me a share of your union with God and of that interior spirit which knows how to do everything in union with Him and nothing without Him" (August, 1871). The "little group" that she guided placed itself under the protection of the saintly Bishop of Geneva and adopted his method of spirituality and pedagogy. Hence the name it chose for itself: the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales, which means, "offered to God and to neighbor by means of their whole life." On October 11, 1871, Sister Françoise de Sales professed her vows. The following year, she was elected Superior General of the new congregation, which was thus canonically established and able to expand rapidly. Under her guidance, the community grew in numbers and the social apostolate developed. At the same time, grade schools were opened in parishes. In Paris, the first boarding school for young ladies was opened. The apostolate of the Oblate Sisters extended to the different classes of society, to all forms of education and to the missions ad gentes. In 1893, after a period of effacement that brought to light her humility, Mother Françoise de Sales was reelected Superior General: an office she held until her death. During this time, she developed the Congregation in Europe, South Africa and Ecuador. She lavished her untiring solicitude on every community and on each of her Sisters. She also coped with the persecution of religious orders in France in 1903. While maintaining the houses of her Congregation that could be kept in France, she transferred the mother house to Perugia, Italy. In 1911, she secured Pope St. Pius X's approbation of the Institute's constitutions. On January 10, 1914, Mother Françoise passed away in Perugia, serenely entrusting herself to God. To the very end, she remained faithful to her resolution at the time of her profession: "To forget myself entirely." To her daughters in every age, she left this very Salesian precept: "Let us work for the happiness of others." She was beatified on September 27, 1992, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on November 25, 2001.
St. William of Bourges(Archbishop († 1209))
SAINT WILLIAM Archbishop( 1209) William Berruyer was from the ancient counts of Nevers. He was educated by Peter the Hermit, Soissons' archdeacon, who was an uncle from his mother's side. William was virtuous and rejected human errors: hedonism, materialism and the like. He thought only lightly of pleasure, delighted in the norms of piety, and studied with diligence and supernatural intent. William was made a canon in Soissons and then in Paris. He entered monastic life in Grandmont and joined an austere order. Later, he joined the Cistercians. He was chosen as prior of the Abbey of Pontigny and later became the abbot of Chaalis. When Archbishop Henri de Sully of Bourges passed away, William was chosen to succeed him. William was reluctant to accept the position and was compelled to by the pope and the abbot of Citeaux, his general. Archbishop William's first care was praying (which consists of listening, placing oneself in the presence of God and more). He denied himself physical comforts with supernatural intention. He performed penances for himself and others. He also wore a hair-shirt under his religious habit and never added to his clothing in winter. He never ate meat, but would provide it to his guests. When Archbishop William was dying, he asked to be laid on ashes in his hair-cloth. In this state, he passed away on January 10, 1209. His body was interred in his cathedral, and being honored by many miracles, was enshrined in 1217. The following year, he was canonized by Pope Honorius III.
Bl. María Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña(Foundress (1848-1918))
Blessed María Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña (1848-1918) Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña was born in Velez Rubio, Almería, Spain, on December 30, 1848. She was the fourth of seven siblings. Her parents, Tomas Rodríguez Sopeña and Nicolasa Ortega Salomon, had moved from Madrid to Velez Rubio for work. Dolores grew up in Andalucía where her father worked as a magistrate. Even though he was often transferred, she described this time as a "lake of tranquility." In 1866, her father was appointed as the judge of Almería. Dolores was 17 years old and was formally introduced to society, though she did not relish the parties. She was more interested in works of mercy. Dolores' first apostolic experience was attending, materially and spiritually, to two sisters who had typhoid fever and to a leper. She did not disclose her activities to her parents out of fear that they would prevent her from continuing. She also visited the poor of Saint Vicent de Paul with her mother. Three years later, her father was sent to Puerto Rico and the family moved to Madrid. She received spiritual formation and began teaching Catechism to women in prison, Sunday schools and at the Princess Hospital. In 1872, the family reunited in Puerto Rico. Dolores was 23 and would remain in the Americas till she was 28. When she encountered the Jesuits, Father Goicoechea became her spiritual director. She founded the Association of the Sodality of the Virgin Mary, schools for the disadvantaged, and taught reading, writing and catechism. In 1873, her father was appointed as the state attorney of Santiago de Cuba. Those were difficult times because of a religious schism on the island. Dolores was only permitted to visit the sick at a military hospital. She requested admission to the Sisters of Charity, but her poor eyesight - from an eye operation at the age of 8 - disqualified her. When the schism ended, Dolores founded the Centers of Instruction in an impoverished neighborhood. The center provided catechism, basic education and medical assistance. Eventually, three centers were opened in different neighborhoods. When Dolores' mother passed away, her father retired and the family moved to Madrid in 1877. Dolores focused on apostolic work, spiritual life and caring for her father. She chose a spiritual director and participated annually in the Saint Ignatius Spiritual Retreat. When her father passed away in 1883, she struggled with her vocation. She entered a Salesian convent following her director's advice, but left after 10 days. She then gave her full attention to apostolic work. In 1885, Dolores opened a center similar to modern social work centers. After visiting a woman who had just been released from prison, she became acquainted with the neighborhood of the Injurias. When she saw the moral and material poverty of its residents, she began visiting the neighborhood every week and invited her friends to help. Thus, she founded the Works of the Doctrines, later named Center for the Workers. In 1892, at the suggestion of the bishop of Madrid, D. Ciríaco Sancha, Dolores founded the Association of the Apostolic Laymen (today known as the Sopeña Lay Movement). The following year, she expanded the work to eight neighborhoods. She began activities outside Madrid in 1896 and took 199 trips within four years to establish and consolidate the Works of the Doctrines. In 1900, Dolores joined a pilgrimage to celebrate the Holy Year in Rome. She attended a retreat at Saint Peter's tomb and received approval to establish a religious institute for the Works of Doctrines. Cardinal Sancha, then Archbishop of Toledo, proposed founding it at his city. Dolores' institute was called the Ladies of Catechistical Institute. It was founded on September 24, 1901, after Dolores and eight companions completed the Spiritual Exercises in Loyola. On October 31 in Toledo, they started living as a religious community. In 1905, they received the Degree of Praise from the Holy See. Today, the Institute is known as the Sopeña Catechetical Institute. During those years, Dolores' Works of the Doctrines changed to Centers for Workers' Instruction. To accommodate workers who were influenced by anti-clerical sentiments, they did not wear outward signs of religion. These changes were made to get close to the workers who were "alienated from the church" and were unable to receive cultural, moral or religious instruction. Dolores' faith and spirituality motivated her to serve others. She personally experienced God's tenderness, Who loves us infinitely and wishes for us to live as sons and brothers and sisters. Dolores had a great desire to "Make of all one family in Christ Jesus." It was uncommon to find a woman who would minister in poor neighborhoods: Dolores' fearlessness was inspired by her deep faith and confidence without limit. It was her greatest treasure and made her feel that she was an instrument of God's will. In 1910, Dolores' community celebrated the first general chapter and reelected her as superior general. In 1914, they founded a community in Rome. In 1917, they opened their first house in the Americas. The following year, on January 10, 1918, Dolores passed away in Madrid. Talk had already began of her being a saint. On July 11, 1992, Pope John Paul II pronounced the heroism of Dolores' life. On April 23, 2002, he verified a miracle attributed to her intercession and beatified her. Currently, the Sopeña Family, encompasses three institutes: the Sopeña Catechetical Institute, the Sopeña Lay Movement and the Sopeña Social and Cultural Work. They are in Spain, Italy, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of january 2016
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:07Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:07Z