Saturday of the Second week in Ordinary Time

2nd book of Samuel

David returned from his defeat of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag.
On the third day a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage.
David asked him, "Where do you come from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the Israelite camp."
"Tell me what happened," David bade him. He answered that the soldiers had fled the battle and that many of them had fallen and were dead, among them Saul and his son Jonathan.
David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise.
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
"Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul, slain upon your heights; how can the warriors have fallen!
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, separated neither in life nor in death, swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!
Women of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and in finery, who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.
"How can the warriors have fallen-- in the thick of the battle, slain upon your heights!
"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother! most dear have you been to me; More precious have I held love for you than love for women.
"How can the warriors have fallen, the weapons of war have perished!"

Psalms

Shepherd of Israel, listen!
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth
Rouse your power,
come to save us.
LORD of hosts, how long will you burn with anger
while your people pray?
You have fed them the bread of tears,
made them drink tears in abundance.
You have left us to be fought over by our neighbors;
our enemies deride us.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

St. Sebastian(Martyr (c. 257-c. 288))

SAINT SEBASTIAN Martyr (c. 257-c. 288) St. Sebastian was an officer in the Roman army, esteemed by pagans as a good soldier and honored by the Church as a moral leader. Born at Narbonne, France, Sebastian came to Rome about the year 284. In Rome, Sebastian found twin brothers Marcus and Marcellinus in prison for the faith. When they were near yielding, he encouraged them to reject temptation and die to their self for Christ. God confirmed his words by miracle: light shone around him while he spoke. He also led many to faith through prayer, acts and healing: among those the prefect of Rome and his son Tiburtius. Sebastian saw his disciples die before him, and one of them appeared in a vision to tell him that his own end was near. It was during a contest of fervor and charity that he found the occasion of martyrdom.The prefect of Rome, after his conversion, retired to his estates in Campania, and took a great number of his fellow converts with him. It was a question of whether Polycarp, a priest, or St. Sebastian would accompany the neophytes. Both were eager to stay and face the danger in Rome, but at last the Pope decided that the Roman church could not spare Sebastian's services. Thus St. Sebastian continued to labor at his post until he was betrayed by a false disciple. St. Sebastian was led before Diocletian; and at the emperor's command, was shot with arrows and left for dead. However, God raised up St. Sebastian, who then went before the emperor and beseeched him to stop the persecution. Again sentenced, St. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs.

St. Fabian(Pope and Martyr (+ 250))

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2024 / Catholic Missal of january 2024