Catholic Missal of the day: Friday, March 10 2017
Friday of the First week of Lent
Friday of the First week of Lent
1. ReadingBook of Ezekiel
18,21-28.]Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
]None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
]Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
]And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.
]You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
]When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
]But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life;
]since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Psalms
130(129),1-2.3-4.5-7a.7bc-8.]Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
]LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
]If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
]But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
]I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
]My soul waits for the Lord
more than sentinels for dawn.
]Let Israel wait for the LORD.
]For with the LORD is kindness
]and with him is plenteous redemption;
]and he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
5,20-26.]Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
]You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.'
]But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
]Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you,
]leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
]Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
]Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus(Foundress (1817-1898))
Saint Marie Eugenie of JesusFoundress of the Religious of the Assumption (1817 - 1898) Anne Marie Eugenie was born in 1817, in Metz, after Napoleon's defeat and the monarchy's restoration. Her family was non-believing and financially comfortable. It seemed unlikely that Anne Marie would trace a new spiritual path in France. Anne Marie's father adhered to Voltaire, was a liberal, and made his fortune in banking and politics. Her mother provided an education, which developed Anne Marie's character and gave her a strong sense of duty. Family life developed Anne Marie's intellectual curiosity, romantic spirit, interest in social questions and a broad world view. Like her contemporary, George Sand, Anne Marie went to Mass on feast days and received the sacraments of initiation, but did so according to custom and without knowledge or conviction. However, her First Communion was a mystical experience that foretold the secret of her future. She did not grasp its prophetic meaning until much later when she recognized it as her path toward totally belonging to Jesus Christ and the Church. Anne Marie's youth was happy, but not without suffering. When she was a child, her elder brother and a baby sister passed away. She was also frail; and a fall from a horse left her with permanent injuries. Anne Marie was mature for her age and learned how to hide her feelings and face up to events. After a prosperous period for her father, she experienced the failure of his banks, the misunderstanding and eventual separation of her parents and the loss of all security. She had to leave her family home and go to Paris with her mother; while Louis, closest to her in age and a faithful companion, went to live with their father. Anne Marie went to Paris only to see her mother die from cholera. At the age of 15, she was now alone in a society that was worldly and superficial. She thus searched in anguish for truth and meaning. When she was 19, Anne Marie attended the Lenten Conferences at Notre Dame in Paris, preached by the young Abbe Lacordaire, who was already well-known for his talent as an orator. Lacordaire was a former disciple of Lamennais: the latter envisioned a renewed Church with a special place in the world. Lacordaire understood young people, their questions and their desires, their idealism and their ignorance of both Christ and the Church. His words touched Anne Marie's heart, answered her many questions and aroused her generosity. "I was truly converted," she wrote, "and I was seized by a longing to devote all my strength or rather all my weakness to the Church which, from that moment, I saw as alone holding the key to the knowledge and achievement of all that is good." At this time, Anne Marie met Fr. Combalot, another of Lamennais' disciples. In the confessional, he recognized her as the soul who would found the congregation he envisaged. He persuaded her to undertake the work by showing education evangelized minds, made families truly Christian and thus transformed society. Anne Marie accepted the project as God's will for her and allowed the Fr. Combalot to guide her. At 22 years old, Anne Marie founded the Religious of the Assumption, whose members consecrate their lives to extend the Kingdom of Christ in themselves and in the world. In 1839, Anne Marie, with two other young women, began a life of prayer and study in a flat at rue Ferou near the church of St. Sulpice in Paris. In 1841, under Madame de Chateaubriand, Lacordaire, Montalembert and their patrons, the Sisters opened their first school. In a relatively short time, there were sixteen Sisters of four nationalities in the community. Anne Marie and her community wanted to link the ancient and the new: uniting the past treasures of the Church's spirituality and wisdom with a type of religious life and education able to satisfy the demands of modern minds. It was a matter of respecting the values of the period and making the Gospel penetrate the culture. The spirituality of the Congregation, centered on Christ and the Incarnation, was both deeply contemplative and dedicated to apostolic action. Anne Marie's long life covered almost the whole of the 19th century. She loved her times passionately and took an active part. Progressively, she channeled her energy and gifts into the Congregation, which became her life's work. God gave her many Sisters and friends. One of her first Sisters was an Irish mystic who she called, "half of myself." Kate O'Neill (called Mother Therese Emmanuel in religion) is considered as a co-foundress. Father Emmanuel d'Alzon became Anne Marie's spiritual director soon after the foundation. He was a father, brother or friend according to the seasons. In 1845, he founded the Augustinians of the Assumption and the two founders helped each other in a multitude of ways over a period of forty years. Both had a gift for friendship and they inspired many lay-persons to work with them and the Church. Together, as they followed Christ and labored with him, the religious and laity traced the path of the Assumption and took their place in the great cloud of witnesses. In the last years of her life, Mother Anne Marie Eugenie experienced a progressive physical weakening, which she lived in silence and humility. She received the Eucharist for the last time on March 9, 1898. On the 10th, she gently passed over to the Lord. She was beatified by Pope Paul VI on February 9, 1975, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on June 3, 2007.
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste((† c. 320))
THE FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTE ( c. 320) These martyrs were soldiers quartered in Sebaste (modern Turkey) circa 320. When their legion was ordered to offer pagan sacrifice, they declined. As punishment, they were scourged, torn with iron hooks, chained together and left to a lingering death. In the dead of winter, the men were condemned to freeze on the icy surface of a pond. With Christ so near during their trial, they removed their garments and went toward the pond singing hymns. The secular authorities placed hot baths nearby to tempt them, yet not one renounced his faith. They remained steadfast and passed away one by one. Among the forty, there was a young soldier who held out the longest. When the officers came to cart away the bodies, they asked him to change his mind, but the soldier's mother encouraged him to triumph. He made a sign of recognition before being carried away - loyal and true to the very end. Forever in heaven, the martyrs praise God and intercede for us. We may call upon them for courage to obey the Holy Spirit.
St. Macarius()
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2017 / Catholic Missal of march 2017
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:16Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:16Z