Monday of the Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time

Book of Exodus

A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
He said to his subjects, "Look how numerous and powerful the Israelite people are growing, more so than we ourselves!
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave our country."
Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. Thus they had to build for Pharaoh the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.
Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. The Egyptians, then, dreaded the Israelites
and reduced them to cruel slavery,
making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick and all kinds of field work--the whole cruel fate of slaves.
Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects, "Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews, but you may let all the girls live."

Psalms

Had not the LORD been with us–
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one's enemies will be those of his household.'
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple--amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

St. Camillus of Lellis(Priest (1550-1614))

SAINT CAMILLUS OF LELLIS Priest (1550-1614) Camillus' early years did not indicate his future sainthood. At 19 years old, he campaigned against the Ottomans together with his father, an Italian noble. After four years, he found himself, through his violent temper, reckless habits and inveterate passion for gambling, a discharged soldier. In such straitened circumstances, he was obliged to work as a laborer on a Capuchin convent that was being constructed. A few words (and many prayers) from a Capuchin friar brought about his conversion. After deep interior searching and examination, Camillus resolved to become a religious. Thrice he entered the Capuchin novitiate, but each time an obstinate wound in his leg forced him to leave. He repaired to Rome for medical treatment, and there took St. Philip as his confessor. Afterward, he entered the hospital of St. Giacomo and became the superintendent. The carelessness of the paid chaplains and nurses inspired Camillus to found a congregation that ministered to suffering patients. With this end, he was ordained a priest; and in 1586, his community of the Servants of the Sick was confirmed by the pope. Its usefulness was soon felt, not only in hospitals, but in private houses. Camillus was summoned at every hour of the day and night. With tenderness, he attended to the needs of his patients. He empathized, consoled and prayed with them. He knew miraculously the state of their souls; and St. Philip saw angels whispering to two Servants of the Sick who were consoling a dying person. One day, a sick man said to the Saint, "Father, may I beg you to make up my bed? It is very hard." Camillus replied, "God forgive you; don't you know that I am your servant?" Camillus served God up to his final hour. In his last moments, he was granted the same consolations that he had so often procured for others. In 1614, he passed away after two weeks' saintly preparation, as a priest recited the words of the ritual, "May Jesus Christ appear to thee with a mild and joyful countenance!"

St. Kateri Tekakwitha(Virgin (1656-1680))

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (The first native American saint) Virgin (1656-1680) St. Kateri was a Mohawk native. Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks" and the "Iroquois maiden," she carried the treasures of the Lord to those living without certainty of God's love. She was the first topropagate the marvels of sanctity, beginning with St. Scholastica, St. Gertrude, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Angela Merici and St. Rose of Lima. Her spirituality is similar to St. Therese of Child Jesus. Kateri spent her life partly in what is now the State of New York and partly in Canada. She was kind, gentle and hardworking. She was baptized at 20 years old. While following her tribe during the hunting season, she continued her devotions before a rough cross that she had carved in the forest. When her family urged her to marry, Kateri serenely replied that she had Jesus as her only spouse. This decision, in view of the social conditions of women, exposed Kateri to the risk of living as an outcast and in poverty. It was a bold, unusual and prophetic gesture. On March 25, 1679, at the age of 23, with the consent of her spiritual director, Kateri took a vow of perpetual virginity - as far as we know the first time that this was done among Natives. The last months of Kateri's life were an even clearer manifestation of her solid faith, straight-forward humility, calm resignation and radiant joy, even in the midst of terrible sufferings. Her last words, simple and sublime, whispered at the moment of her death, sum up, like a noble hymn, a life of purest charity: "Jesus, I love you...." The Church declares to the world that Kateri Tekakwitha is saint, that she lived a life on earth of exemplary virtue and holiness and that she is now a member in Heaven of the Communion of Saints who continually intercede with the merciful Father. During St. Kateri's canonization ceremony on October 21, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI said in his homily: "Kateri impresses us by the action of grace in her life, in spite of the absence of external help and by the courage of her vocation - so unusual in her culture. In her, faith and culture enrich each other! May her example help us to live where we are, loving Jesus without denying who we are. Saint Kateri, Protectress of Canada and the first Native American saint, we entrust to you the renewal of the faith in the first nations and in all of North America! May God bless the first nations!”

St. Francis Solano(Priest (1549-1610))

SAINT FRANCIS SOLANOPriest(1549-1610) St. Francis Solano was born in the diocese of Cordova, Spain. He was educated by the Jesuit Fathers. Later on, he entered the Order of St. Francis. There, he distinguished himself with humility, obedience, fervent prayer and self-denial. In 1589, Fr. Francis sailed to South America and preached the Gospel to Peruvian natives. When he first arrived, his ship struck rocks and was in danger of drowning.The captain hurried the officers and principal passengers into the only lifeboat and asked Fr. Francis to accompany them. Fr. Francis refused to leave the remaining passengers: He consoled themand prayed fervently, keeping up the hope in God's mercy. At last, rescuers arrived and all were taken off-board to safety. Fr. Francis did not confine his ministry to Lima. He visited the forests and deserts and by degrees won the natives' trust. In this way, he baptized nine thousand souls. He was then recalled to Lima, which at that time was like Ninive. Fr. Francis preached to hardened sinners and converted Lima's populace. Following a painful sickness, Fr. Francis' last words were, "God be praised!" His soul went to Heaven on July 14, 1610. He was declared Blessed by Pope Clement X in 1675 and canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2025 / Catholic Missal of july 2025