Book of Hosea

10,1-3.7-8.12.

Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt; God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say, "We have no king"-- Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars. Then they shall cry out to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall upon us!"
"Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; Break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you."

Psalms

105(104),2-3.4-5.6-7.

Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

10,1-7.

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

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Sts. Rufina & Secunda(Virgins and Martyrs (3rd century))

SAINTS RUFINA AND SECUNDAVirgins and Martyrs(3rd century) Rufina and Secunda were Roman sisters and virgins. To better serve Christ, they declined marriages to Armentarius and Verinus, respectively. Rufina and Secunda were arrested during the reign of emperors Valerian and Gallienus. They remained indifferent to the blandishments and threats of the prefect Junius. When Junius saw they could not be swayed, he had them tortured. Guarded by angels, Rufina and Secunda persevered in their holy resolutions. They were beheaded at the tenth milestone on the Aurelien Way. Their bodies were buried by a matron named Plautilla on her estate outside the city. Their relics were later enshrined at the basilica of Constantine, near the baptistry.

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St. Felicitas and Her Seven Holy Sons(Martyrs († c. 150))

ST. FELICITAS and HER SEVEN HOLY SONS Martyrs(† c. 150) St. Felicitas and her seven sons were martyred in Rome by Emperor Antoninus. Their story takes place shortly after Felicitas' husband passed away. In spite of the loss, the family continued edifying the Church through works of mercy. Many received faith in Jesus through their prayers and deeds. A calamity befell the family when Satan stirred the worldly, materialistic spirit governing the minds of Rome's pagan cults. The pagan priests grew jealous at the propagation of Christianity and directed their ire toward Felicitas and her sons. Thus, a case was brought against Felicitas: accusing her of attacking Roman cults. In order to appease the gods, they reasoned, Felicitas and her seven children would need to be sacrificed. Out of human respect, the prefect Publius arrested Felicitas and her sons. The narrator Alban Butler wrote the following description of that event: "Publius asked Felicitas to spare her children from torture saying, 'Take pity on your children. ... They are in the bloom of youth and may aspire to the greatest honors and preferments.' Felicitas replied, 'Your pity belies a lack of love.' She then turned toward her children and said, 'My sons, look up to Heaven with courage because Jesus Christ and His saints expect you.'" Publius, exasperated and indignant at Felicitas' steadfastness, commanded her to be cruelly beaten. He then called her children one by one and offered vanities and deceptions, promises and threats. When all seven rejected idolatry and proclaimed the Gospel, they were scourged. Later, Antoninus sent them to different judges. The first brother, Januarius, was scourged to death with whips loaded with leaden plummets. The next two, Felix and Philip, were beaten to death with clubs. The fourth, Sylvanus, was thrown down a steep precipice. The three youngest, Alexander, Vitalis and Martialis, were beheaded. Last of all, Felicitas was beheaded four months after her children. The martyrs stood on principles that formed Western civilization: among them freedom of speech and not the abuse of speech. They died to themselves for love of Jesus Christ; and became like Him. They reign with Christ in Heaven forever.

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