Friday of the First week in Ordinary Time

1st book of Samuel

All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah
and said to him, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us."
Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however,
who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.
Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king.
He told them: "The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot.
He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers. He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
He will use your daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials.
He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best oxen and your asses, and use them to do his work.
He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
When this takes place, you will complain against the king whom you have chosen, but on that day the LORD will not answer you."
The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel's warning and said, "Not so! There must be a king over us.
We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles."
When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD,
who then said to him, "Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them."

Psalms

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
For you are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and to the Holy One of Israel, our King.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"--
he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys((1620-1700))

SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS 1620-1700 Foundress of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne, France, on Good Friday, April 17, 1620. She was baptized in the church of Saint-Jean near her home. Marguerite was the sixth of twelve children. Her parents were Abraham Bourgeoys and Guillemette Gamier. She was blessed to grow up in a milieu that was middle class and Christian. Marguerite was 19 when her mother passed away. The following year, during the course of a procession held on October 7 in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, she had an unforgettable experience. Her eyes rested on the statue of the Blessed Virgin; and at that moment, she was inspired to withdraw from the world and consecrate herself to the service of the Church. With that unchanging fidelity to what she sensed was God's will, she set about discerning her specific vocation. She registered as a member of the extern congregation of Troyes: an association of young girls devoted to the charitable work of teaching children in the poor districts. While conducting apostolate, she learned about the foundation of Ville Marie (Montreal) in Canada. The year was 1642 and she received the calling to missionary life. This was affirmed in 1652 when she met Monsieur de Maisonneuve, the founder and governor of the settlement in New France. He was searching for someone to volunteer for the instruction of French and Native children. Our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, reaffirmed Marguerite's calling in a locution: "Go, I will not forsake you." Marguerite left Troyes in February 1653 with a spirit of complete detachment. She arrived in Montreal the following November 16 and set to work promoting the best interests of the community. She is rightly considered co-foundress of Montreal; along with the nurse, Jeanne Mance, and the master designer, Monsieur de Maisonneuve. In order to encourage expressions of faith, she restored the cross on Mount Royal after its destruction by hostile tribes. She also began the construction of a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. Convinced that the family is a crucial institution, and aware of women's importance, she devoted herself to women who had a vocation for marriage. In 1658, she opened the first school in Montreal at a stable given to her by the governor. She also organized an extern congregation, patterned after the one in Troyes, but adapted to local needs. This enabled her to help women as far as the instruction of children were concerned. In 1659, she began receiving ladies who were recommended by "les cures" in France, or endowed by the King to establish homes in Montreal - and became a real mother to them. Her activities brought forth a school system and network of social services that gradually extended to the whole country: leading people to refer to Marguerite as "Mother of the Community." On three occasions, Marguerite made trips to France to obtain help. In 1658, the group of teachers who associated themselves with her in the life of prayer, heroic detachment and untiring devotedness to the service of others presented the image of a religious institute. The group was inspired by the "vie voyagere" of Our Lady and desired to remain uncloistered: the concept of an uncloistered community being an innovation at the time. Their foundation occasioned much sacrifice, but steadily progressed. The Congregation de Notre-Dame received its civil charter from Louis XIV in 1671 and canonical approbation by decree of the bishop of Quebec in 1676. The Constitutions of the Community were approved in 1698. The foundation being assured, Sister Bourgeoys could leave the work to others. She passed away in Montreal on January 12, 1700, acknowledged for her sanctity of life and heroic virtues. Forty members of the Congregation de Notre-Dame were there to continue her work. Her last generous act was to offer herself as a sacrifice of prayer for the return to health of a young sister. The educative and apostolic efforts of Marguerite Bourgeoys continues through the members of the community that she founded. More than 2,600 Sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame work in fields of action according to the needs of time and place: in schools, colleges and universities, in promoting family, parish and diocesan activities. They are on mission in Canada, the United States, Japan, Latin America and Cameroon; and most recently, they have established a house in France. On November 12, 1950, Pope Pius XII beatified Marguerite Bourgeoys. Pope John Paul II canonized her on October 31, 1982: giving the Canadian Church its first woman saint.

St. Aelred(Abbot (1109-1167))

SAINT AELRED OF RIEVAULX Abbot (1109-1167) "One thing thou lackest." In these words, God called Aelred from the court of a royal, David of Scotland, to the silence of the cloister. He left the king, the companions of his youth and a friend most dear. Aelred was "sent," convinced of the perils his soul faced in the world. Upon entering the Cistercian Order, his yearning for sympathy tempted him to forget its rule of perpetual silence. He broke the rule just once: interrupting the focus of his brother, Simon. Immediately, Aelred prostrated himself. He repented for not listening to others' hearts and resolved to let nothing interupt his communion with God and Mary. At his superior's behest, Aelred composed his great works, the Spiritual Friendship and the Mirror of Charity. In the latter, he says that true love of God is only to be obtained by joining ourselves in all things to the Passion of Christ. Aelred founded Rieveaux Abbey in England and served as its abbot. Before passing away in 1167, he was the superior of some three hundred monks.

St. Benedict Biscop(abbot (c. 628 – 690))

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